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July 17, 2024Anna Maria College announced the upcoming retirement of President Mary Lou Retelle in a press release on July 16. Her retirement will be effective at the close of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Information regarding the college’s presidential search has not yet been shared but it will be made available in the upcoming weeks on the college’s website annamaria.edu, according to the press release.
In a message to the campus community, President Retelle expressed gratitude to the Board of Trustees for their “beyond compare” support and to the faculty and staff “who partnered fully with me to meet every challenge Anna Maria faced – such as a pandemic, economic upheavals, demographic changes, and public skepticism about private colleges like ours. Their creativity, hard work, innovation, and love of the College and our students are institutional strengths, and the foundation for continued success.”
President Retelle also called the students the “heart and soul” of her tenure.
“Every decision I made was guided by their educational dreams and aspirations,” President Retelle wrote.
She acknowledged the influence of Anna Maria’s values, inspired by the ideals of the Sisters of Saint Anne who founded the College in 1946.
“These values are more relevant now than ever,” she added. “They are embodied within our teaching and in our care for our students beyond the classroom.”
Chair of the Board of Trustees David Trainor stated, “President Retelle’s leadership has been instrumental in guiding Anna Maria College through a period of significant change and accomplishment.”
“Her steadfast commitment to our mission and values has ensured that Anna Maria College remains a beacon of opportunity for students from all backgrounds. We are incredibly grateful for her service and wish her all the best in her retirement. The Board is committed to ensuring a seamless transition as we prepare to begin work to search for Anna Maria’s next leader.”
President Retelle joined Anna Maria College in 2011 as Executive Vice President, overseeing enrollment, student life, and athletics. In 2015, she assumed the role of President, carrying forward a vision shared with the student body at her inauguration: a “powerful feeling of optimism for our mission and values.”
The press release cited achievements during President Retelle’s tenure such as “enrollment growth, expansion and enhancement of academic programs, improving student experiences, regional impact, and recognition through federal and foundation grants.”
