'Students keep you young': Outgoing Rockford University president reflects on career
Outgoing Rockford University President Eric Fulcomer is being credited with helping to stabilize the school’s finances, raising funds to enhance its campus and guiding the institution through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fulcomer will step down Dec. 10 after nearly a decade at the school including the last six-and-a-half years as its president.
Fulcomer, 51, has accepted a job as president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Madison. He will oversee an organization of 23 independent or private nonprofit institutions of higher learning in the Badger State.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Rockford University and am very proud of the people here and what they have accomplished during the time I’ve been here,” Fulcomer said. “It’s hard to leave and it’s hard to leave the community as well.”
Communication between staff, faculty and students improved under Fulcomer’s leadership, according to Rockford University Board of Trustees president Rebecca Epperson.
“He was really stellar in going out and talking to donors. That was huge,” she said. “From a board standpoint, Eric helped develop a strategic plan and oversight that we continue to use today.”
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Fulcomer began his career at Rockford University as the school’s vice president for enrollment manager in 2013. He was named university’s 18th president in 2016, succeeding Robert Head.
“The legacy of any institution and any president is the graduates and so I’m really proud of the students that have graduated during the 10 years that I’ve been here and the alums before them,” Fulcomer said. “We have a remarkable group of living alumni all over the world.”
Rockford University’s enrollment is currently 1,171 full-and-part-time students from 30 states and 15 countries.
The school had a record freshman class during the pandemic in the fall of 2020, when Rockford University returned to in-person learning
"The real nice thing is the students who came in that record class stayed at the same percentage as they normally do and so we didn't have a lot of students that just came and then once things got more normal at other places, they transferred. That just didn't happen," Fulcomer said.
Fulcomer said he'll miss being regularly engaging with the students more than anything else.
“Students keep you young, they ask great questions and bring great energy to the campus. It’s a real privilege to work with 18-to-22-year-old's and spend time with them and be part of their growth. I really feel that we are making a difference in the lives of our students.”
Former University of Southern New Hampshire president Patricia Lynott is serving as Rockford University interim president while the school’s board of trustees searches for Fulcomer’s successor.
It’s unclear when a new president will be named.
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, kdecoster@rrstar.com or @DeCosterKen.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Outgoing Rockford University president Eric Fulcomer reflects on career
