Nichols celebrates investiture of President Pieczynski

Pieczynski invested as ninth president of Nichols, a role he has held since May 2024

Dudley, MA (10/19/2024) — (For Immediate Release:)

The Nichols College community convened for the investiture of William C. Pieczynski on Friday, October 18, as the ninth president of Nichols College, a role he has held since May 2024.

President Pieczynski has a long and distinguished career at Nichols, working closely with faculty, staff and students across academic disciplines and campus-wide departments. He joined the College as director of the Nichols Fund in 2006, where he was charged with expanding the President's Society, generating annual funds and overseeing alumni relations. President Pieczynski was named vice president for advancement in 2010 when he oversaw the successful completion of the College's bicentennial campaign, Securing a Legacy of Leadership, which raised $66 million to support capital projects, endowment and brand-elevating curricular and co-curricular initiatives. The campaign was the largest in the College's history, generating a record number of multimillion-dollar gifts, and far surpassed the campaign's initial goal of $45 million.

The investiture ceremony, presided over by Chair of the Nichols College Board of Trustees Randy Becker '83 MBA '96, included calls to service and remarks by representatives from various constituencies of the college. Provost Daniel Borgia served as Master of Ceremonies.

Messages of support were delivered throughout the calls to service. "Bill has a proven track record of outstanding leadership and loyalty to Nichols College having been a valuable member and contributor of the Nichols Family for over 17 years," said Nichols College Trustee David Bedard '86, representing the Committee for the Future of Presidential Leadership (CFPL).

The investiture ceremony was conducted by Becker, with special assistance from Pieczynski's sister, Denise, and wife, Lana.

"Today, we gather to celebrate a man of genuine integrity, humility and compassion. We are confident that President Pieczynski will support the culture of Nichols and foster change that is both forward-thinking and deep-rooted in the College's honored traditions," said Becker, who also noted Pieczynski's many accomplishments, from setting new standards of giving to securing contributions to support new building projects to expanding experiential learning opportunities.

Pieczynski in his inaugural address remarked, "Now, this is a somewhat different investiture in that I am not a newly appointed president, still unboxing mementos or contemplating the quickest way to get from Conrad Hall to Vendetti Field. I have had the time to develop deep friendships here, to leverage a tenure that dates to 2006, and to understand the complexity of this institution at this moment in time. Indeed, when I was asked to pursue the presidency, I responded that I was eager to do whatever was best for the College."

He praised the resilience of Nichols, noting its evolution throughout its history, dating back to 1815. "I am fortunate to lead a college that is comfortable in its own skin-always aware that we are a work in progress-but one that has confronted momentous change and has persevered."

Turning to the challenges of educating students for a future and jobs that don't yet exist, Pieczynski remarked that the school possesses a strong foundation for this task, with its "unabashedly" student-centered living and learning environment and unique experiential opportunities.

He cited what the College's administrators casually refer to as the Nichols "triple threat," where students complete an internship, receive a professional certification, and complete an experiential learning experience, as an area of focus and enhancement. He quoted higher education research that spoke of these kinds of experiences as "career game changers."

Developing such experiential learning opportunities and academic differentiation, said Pieczynski, will be one of four short-term strategic priorities, alongside developing a robust budget model that drives net revenue growth, an institutional branding, and a better understanding of the College's current culture in building toward a more supportive, collaborative and inclusive community.

Concluding the day's spirited events was a community celebration and Presidents' Society Dinner.

About Nichols

Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today's students into tomorrow's leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth - combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage - equipping students to exceed their own expectations. www.nichols.edu

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