Ronald Crutcher

Ronald A. Crutcher
10th President of the University of Richmond
In office July 1, 2015 – August 15, 2021
Preceded by	Edward L. Ayers
Succeeded by	Kevin Hallock
Personal details
Born	(1947-02-27) February 27, 1947 (age 77) Cincinnati, Ohio
Spouse	Betty Neal Crutcher
Children	1
Alma mater	Miami University (B.Mus.) Yale University (M.Mus., D.Mus.)
Profession	Educator, musician
[1]

Ronald Andrew Crutcher (born February 27, 1947) is an American classical musician and academic administrator who served as a professor of music and 10th president of the University of Richmond from 2015 to 2021.^[2]

Early life

Crutcher was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1947. He began learning to play the cello aged 15, and was taught by Professor Elizabeth Potteiger of Miami University.^[3]

Crutcher is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate^[4] of Miami University, where he graduated cum laude. He pursued graduate studies at Yale University as a Woodrow Wilson and Ford Foundation Fellow. In 1979, he was the first cellist to receive the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Yale.^[5] The recipient of a Fulbright Award, he is fluent in German and studied music at the University of Bonn.

Career

Crutcher was associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro from 1987 to 1990. He then became vice president of academic affairs at the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1990–1994, and served as director of the School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin from 1994-1999.^[6]

Crutcher then worked at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, serving as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and professor of music. While at Miami University, Crutcher coordinated the First in 2009 strategic vision process for the University; established the Center for American and World Cultures.

From 2004 to 2014, Crutcher served as the president of Wheaton College. During his 10 years at Wheaton, Crutcher's fundraising campaign raised more funds than any previous campaign in the institution's history, totaling $137.6 million. This figure includes $37 million for the Mars Center^[7] and $53.3 million for scholarships, plus several million dollars for athletic facilities, career services, and faculty-mentored research. The campaign also achieved a 72 percent rate of alumni participation.^[2]

In 2015, Crutcher was named the 10th president of the University of Richmond, succeeding Edward L. Ayers. In March 2021, the University of Richmond announced that Dr. Crutcher would step down as president on August 15. He was succeeded by Kevin F. Hallock, dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.^[8]

Crutcher is also the founding co-chair of the Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) initiative,^[9] housed in the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).

References

1. "About Ronald A. Crutcher". The History Makers. December 6, 2016. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
2. "Ronald A. Crutcher named 10th president of University of Richmond". University of Richmond. February 23, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
3. "Music - University of Richmond". music. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
4. "Let's Talk About Race: An Interview with Ronald A. Crutcher". Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
5. "Dr. Ronald Crutcher : Isenberg School of Management : UMass Amherst". www.isenberg.umass.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
6. Morgan, Joan (February 8, 1996). "A Man and His Cello". Black Issues in Higher Education.(subscription required)
7. Mars Center
8. "Hallock, SC Johnson dean, named University of Richmond president". Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
9. Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP)

Academic offices
Preceded by Edward L. Ayers	President of the University of Richmond 2015–2021	Succeeded by Kevin Hallock