July 20, 2001
Owens to leave post as 'Berg's president
Porada named interim president
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
The Heidelberg College Board of Trustees is looking for the college's 13th president.
The board received and accepted the resignation of Richard H. Owens Thursday. He had served five years.
Interim president will be Kenneth J. Porada, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college.
The board has not made any plans for the search for a permanent successor, said Gary L. Bryenton, chairman of the college's board of trustees.
In fact, it may not look outside the school because Porada probably will be a strong candidate to become the next president, he said.
"We feel that he will be interested in the position," Bryenton said.
Owens' resignation is effective July 31.
According to information from Heidelberg, Owens told the board his goal is to explore other leadership opportunities in higher education. Owens could not be reached for comment.
Bryenton said he had been talking with Owens for a couple of months about Owens exploring other options. The board had been advised that the president might not return, he said.
"It was a very amicable separation," Bryenton said.
Owens was at the end of a one-year contract as president, according to Bryenton. During his five years, Owens had been employed as president on a series of one-year contracts, he said.
While on the job, Owens did a good job of increasing the enrollment and quality of students at the school, Bryenton said.
According to information from the college, Heidelberg's main-campus enrollment of 1,016 full-time undergraduate students for the past academic year was its highest in 25 years. Last fall's freshman class of 325 also was a record number.
Also, the class entered with the second highest ACT scores and highest collective grade point average in the college's history.
Bryenton is confident that Porada can continue those trends.
Between now and July 31, Owens will help with the transition, Bryenton said.
Porada joined the Heidelberg faculty in 1978 as an assistant professor of psychology. He has had his present position since 1990. He has been responsible for the administration of all academic programs and support areas, including athletics, computer operations, the registrar, the library and the learning center. He also is a professor of psychology.