Catawba College has been on such a roll lately that news of President Fred Corriher’s retirement comes as a shock.
Then again, think about it. The college recently unveiled its unique Center for the Environment. A $56.6 million fund-raising goal is within sight. Several campus buildings have been dramatically upgraded, and the college is in the midst of celebrating its 150th anniversary.
What better time could Corriher choose to announce his exit? If all holds together between now and September 2002, he’ll go out on a strong, positive note.
Corriher’s time at Catawba’s helm has been the perfect alignment of opportunity and preparation, something others might call luck. Between his family’s long loyalty to the college — his grandfather served on the board of trustees —and his own activity there as a student and alumnus, Corriher has Catawba-blue blood. It would have been impossible for trustees to find someone to succeed the late Dr. Stephen Wurster who was more familiar with or passionate about Catawba College.
The chief criticism of Corriher —perhaps the only one —has been his lack of a record in academia. He came to the presidency as a businessman, not a onetime professor. Even Corriher has said winning over the faculty might not be among his accomplishments.
But considering the challenges that faced Catawba in the early 1990s, having a businessman at the helm certainly did not hurt. Corriher was able to carry on and expand upon the improvements that had started under Wurster’s leadership. As the economy boomed during the later 1990’s, Catawba seized the opportunity to move the quality and diversity of its facilities up several notches.
Corriher may feel like a lame duck now, but he’s done the college a favor by giving ample notice. Save the goodbyes for next September. Fred Corriher still has a lot of work to do.
Today's News
