Three members of Quinnipiac Presidential Cabinet announce departure

Three+members+of+Quinnipiac+Presidential+Cabinet+announce+departure

Cali Kees

Three members of Quinnipiac’s presidential cabinet have announced that they will be leaving. Lynn Bushnell, vice president for public affairs, Don Weinbach, vice president for development and alumni and Greg Eichhorn, vice president for admissions and financial aid have all announced the will be either leaving or retiring by June 2020.

A screenshot of the letter President Olian sent to faculty and staff.

This news comes in a letter President Olian sent to faculty and staff earlier Wednesday.

“In the coming weeks and months, we will have many opportunities to express our gratitude to Mark, Don, Lynn and Greg for their dedicated service and impact at Quinnipiac,” Olian wrote in the letter.

The letter explains that this was a long-planned retirement for Bushnell. She has been a part of the university community for 25 years, first coming to Quinnipiac in 1994. In 1996, she became the vice president for public affairs, in this role she oversees the Quinnipiac University Poll, public relations, media relations, special events, Commencement, Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum, Office of Integrated Marketing Communications, and Quinnipiac’s commercial radio station WQUN AM 1220.

“Lynn has worked tirelessly on behalf of Quinnipiac, advancing the university’s national visibility, and overseeing the growth of key units including the renowned Quinnipiac Poll,” Olian wrote.

Bushnell will retire in June 2019.

Weinbach has announced he plans to retire in June 2020. Weinbach was appointed Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs in 1996. Before this, he spent six years as Executive Director of Development and Alumni Affairs at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. In his role, Weinbach oversees all fundraising.

“Don has successfully led all of the university’s fundraising efforts and outreach to our 50,000 alumni, facilitating philanthropic support for its vital priorities,” Olian wrote.

Eichhorn will also be leaving the university at the end of June. He came to Quinnipiac in 2016 as Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid. Previously, Eichhorn worked at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, for 24 years, most recently as Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission. As Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid, his responsibilities include oversight of admissions and financial aid for undergraduate and graduate programs.

“Greg will continue to lead the admission efforts for the entering class of 2019/20 with a focus on quality, diversity and enrollment goals,” Olian wrote. “I am most grateful for Greg’s professionalism and expertise in the admissions area.”

In the letter, Olian stated that the search for their successors has already begun.

“I am confident that with their help, we will achieve a smooth transition in each role,” Olian wrote.

Olian wished Bushnell, Weinbach and Eichhorn the best in their future endeavors.

“They have meant so much to our institution, and to our students, staff, and faculty,” Olian wrote. “We wish them the very best in the next chapters of their lives.”

Back in March, Executive Vice President and Provost, Mark Thompson announced he will be leaving May 31. This news came after Thompson accepted the position of President at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

On June 1, Jennifer Brown, dean of the School of Law since 2013, will assume the role of Interim EVP and Provost.

“Jennifer is a terrific academic leader, enhancing quality, enrollments and innovative programming at the law school, and serving as a trusted and admired member of the Leadership Council,” Olian wrote in a letter to the university community. “This is a vital role for QU. I am grateful to Jennifer for her acceptance of this leadership role, and greatly look forward to partnering with her.”

In the letter to faculty and staff today, Olian also announced that the university is searching for its first internal general counsel. This counsel will provide legal advice, representation and oversight on a range of legal matters affecting the university.

“For years, Quinnipiac has relied on external services for our legal needs,” Olian wrote. “ Most other universities our size have internal counsel.”

Along with these personnel changes, the university has made some been working to make some changes to the President’s Office. Brown, will now be co-located with the President, CFO, and VP/Chief of Staff. The renovations will also expand the conference room in order to accommodate the university’s leadership council and other similar groups.

The renovations will also allow for more space for the Learning Commons.

“This renovation frees up space for the Learning Commons, providing new offices and one-on-one tutoring spaces for the six new academic coaches being hired to improve retention and enhance academic support for students,” Olian wrote.