Message from the Board of Trustees of AUCA

June 7, 2021

Dear Members of the University community,

As many of you may have heard at Saturday’s commencement exercises, President Andrew Kuchins has decided to return to the United States at the end of this academic year, to be able to spend time again with his and his wife’s families. We are very thankful for Dr. Kuchins’ leadership during the past two years, and wish him great success in his future endeavors. Despite the many complications and hardships that the Covid-19 pandemic has occasioned, the past two years have also included a number of clear and impressive advances by the University, and we are grateful for the role that Dr. Kuchins has played in their achievement.

The Board of Trustees of the University has asked Dr. Jonathan Becker, the Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bard College, and a member of the Board of Trustees of AUCA, to assume the title of President on an interim basis, and he has graciously agreed to do so, effective immediately. Dr. Becker has been on AUCA’s Board of Trustees for more than a decade, and served as interim President for most of the 2018-2019 academic year. Dr. Becker will in the coming days be arranging meetings with key constituencies within the University, including the Academic and Student Senates.

The Board of Trustees will be commencing a search process to select a new President for the University, and will do so with the involvement of the Academic Senate and other members of the University community. The Board looks forward to engaging with the faculty, students, and staff in the weeks and months to come, as the search process gets underway.

The past 15 months have been challenging for all of us, as we have dealt with the multiple disruptions caused by the pandemic. The faculty, staff, and students of AUCA have shown remarkable resilience during this period, collectively responding with creativity and commitment, to ensure that even in adversity the University remains strong and vibrant. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all for their enormous efforts during this period, and to ask for your continuing support as we turn to the next chapter in AUCA’s exciting development.

Sincerely,

David Lakhdhir
on behalf of the Board of Trustees

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