Christian Brothers University is on the hunt for a new president after David Archer, the current president, announced his retirement following a two-year tenure. According to a Commercial Appeal report, Archer's departure comes amid financial challenges for the Memphis-based institution, which has seen a decline in undergraduate enrollment and on-campus housing occupancy.
After Archer's retirement earlier this week, a team of senior leaders at the university will take over the day-to-day management tasks, Action News 5 reported. This temporary measure is expected to keep the university on course until a permanent president is named after the May 11 graduation ceremony. Despite these operational shifts, and the financial turbulences, Archer's work has set "a foundation for greater fiscal health," as noted by the university's trustees.
The appointment of Archer's successor will be announced soon after May 11, with the Board of Trustees aiming for a "new and fresh direction" to help reinforce the university's educational mission and financial stability. "While leadership changes are never easy, the board of trustees feels confident that a new and fresh direction can help us build an even more intentional focus on strengthening donor relations and outreach in support of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni," CBU board chair Emily Greer stated in a press release quoted by The Business Journals.
Before his presidency started in 2022, Archer was known for his work in healthcare and academia. He joined CBU after nearly 20 years at the helm of Saint Francis Healthcare in Memphis. His contributions during his short presidential stint at CBU include navigating the university through a financial rough patch that included declaring financial exigency and planning budget cuts of $4 million to tackle an impending deficit, Commercial Appeal outlines. The changes included administrative job eliminations and the cutting of 28 faculty positions adding, to the sweeping measures taken in response to the university's economic constraints.
