The Board of Trustees at Arcadia University and President Nicolette DeVille Christensen announce that Dr. DeVille Christensen will end her tenure as president at the conclusion of her contract on June 30, 2017.

“It has been an honor to serve Arcadia University as president for the past four years and previously as vice president of The College of Global Studies,” said Dr. DeVille Christensen. “I am extremely proud of the progress our close-knit, global community achieved during my tenure, especially in working alongside such talented faculty and staff in accomplishing the goals and objectives set forth by the University’s Strategic Plan.”

Under Dr. DeVille Christensen’s leadership, Arcadia enrolled four of the largest undergraduate classes in the University’s history. The close of fiscal year 2017 will see the majority of the initiatives indicated in the Strategic Plan (2013-2018) achieved by her leadership team.

“The Board of Trustees wishes to acknowledge Dr. DeVille Christensen’s role in leading the University through a challenging period of transition,” remarked Dr. Charles Lentz ’03M, chair of the Board of Trustees at Arcadia University. “Her innovations will enable the next leadership team to build upon those successes to ensure a healthy and productive future for Arcadia.”

Dr. DeVille Christensen was appointed president of Arcadia University in October 2013, after serving as chief operating officer since March of that year. She outlined five “Presidential Priorities” that have shaped her achievements: alumni engagement, global engagement, diversification of revenue sources, infrastructure enhancements, and strategic alliances. She prioritized reengaging the Beaver College/Arcadia University alumni and introduced the highly successful Day of Giving initiative.

Since 2013, Arcadia’s global footprint has expanded greatly, with Dr. DeVille Christensen facilitating strategic alliances regionally, nationally, and internationally. Arcadia University continues to be ranked first in the U.S. by the Institute of International Education for the percentage of undergraduate students studying abroad, a ranking the University has maintained for the last seven years.

A globally recognized scholar and leader in international education, Dr. DeVille Christensen has been appointed to several external bodies including: The Association of International Education Administrators; Special Olympics Advisory Board; United Nations Task Force on Education; and United Nations Commission on Disarmament Education, Conflict Resolution, and Peace (founded by the International Association of University Presidents in conjunction with the UN). Dr. DeVille Christensen’s service to Arcadia began in 2008, at what was then the Center for Education Abroad, where she led its transition to The College of Global Studies.

Given the diversity of challenges facing global higher education, Dr. DeVille Christensen is planning to engage with strategic development initiatives in new contexts in the future.

“The Board of Trustees will convene to finalize the succession plan for Arcadia’s executive leadership,” said Dr. Lentz. “We would like to once again acknowledge Dr. DeVille Christensen for her unwavering commitment and dedicated service to the University, and we wish her all the best in her future leadership roles.”