EVANSVILLE — The University of Evansville has issued a statement mourning the passing of James S. Vinson, the institution’s 21st president.
Vinson died on June 27 at the age of 84. He led the university “with vision and integrity” from 1987 to 2001, according to UE.
“Dr. Vinson took office during a pivotal time in the University’s 170-year history, following a national search that drew more than 150 applicants,” UE officials said in a news release. “Then serving as vice president for academic affairs and professor of physics at Trinity University, he was selected for his academic distinction and a deep commitment to student success.”
The Courier & Press reported in 2001 that getting UE’s finances in order had been one of Vinson’s top priorities upon taking office 14 years earlier. The university was operating at a loss when Vinson took over, board member Robert Koch II said.
Recalling Vinson’s career at UE upon the news of his looming departure in May 2001, Koch said the university’s operating budget had been in the black “every year since he has been here, and some years there even has been a slight surplus.”
The endowment, $11 million when Vinson became president, stood at about $60 million in 2001, UE officials said then.
In its statement this week, UE said it “experienced significant growth in academic programs and student opportunities” during Vinson’s tenure.
“Dr. Vinson was admired not only as a leader, but also as a teacher and mentor, often beginning his days in the classroom teaching 8 a.m. physics courses,” UE said. “His passion for education was matched by his love of exploration. A lifelong learner and adventurer, Dr. Vinson traveled to all seven continents, embracing the wonder of the world and the people in it.”
UE President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz said Vinson “believed deeply in the potential of the University of Evansville and the people who make it special.”
“Through his leadership, he changed lives — lives that would go on to change the world,” Pietruszkiewicz said. “His legacy is woven into the very fabric of this institution and continues to inspire our mission to prepare students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully.”
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Former UE president Vinson led with ‘vison and integrity,’ university says
Reporting by Thomas B. Langhorne, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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