NASPA Honors Richard B. Flynn With President’s Award

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Nov. 30, 2007 – Richard B. Flynn, president of Springfield College, received the President’s Award of the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region 1, at the organization’s Nov. 6 annual regional conference in Burlington, Vt.

The award honors a college or university president from New England; Europe; the Canadian Atlantic Provinces; or Quebec, Canada, who has been directly involved in enhancing the quality of on-campus student life. The honoree also must have involved students and student life staff in governing their institution, and impacted the student life profession beyond an individual campus.

Responding to the announcement, Flynn said, “It is our mission to educate students in spirit, mind and body to prepare them for leadership positions in careers that serve humanity. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration of Springfield College, whose primary focus is supporting our students with top quality academics, facilities, and campus life, I am honored to accept this award.”

David Braverman, Springfield College vice president for student affairs, nominated Flynn. He wrote, “In his nine years as president of Springfield College, Dr. Flynn has made a significant positive impact on the quality of student life on our campus…(he) leads the entire institution in realization of the mission in service to our students.”

Braverman cited Flynn’s participation in all types of student events including visual and performing arts programs, discussion groups, spiritual programs, varsity teams’ and sports clubs’ events, and a host of other student activities. “Dr. Flynn also is a renowned ‘Flapjack Flipper’ at midnight breakfasts just prior to finals week,” Braverman added.

“The physical environment of the campus has been enhanced significantly under Dr. Flynn’s leadership,” Braverman stated. The college has renovated campus buildings and athletics fields into state-of-the-art facilities supporting academic programs and campus life. It has built a new suite-style student residence hall; renovated the student dining hall; introduced new fresh food service; and is constructing a new wellness center, field house, and campus union. Flynn launched a $40 million campaign to support campus construction and academic initiatives.

“Professional and community service has also been a hallmark of Dr. Flynn’s leadership,” Braverman stated. “His mantra, that we are ‘part of the community, not apart from it,’ is realized daily.” Flynn has provided consultations nationally and internationally on leadership, educational facilities, and other topics, and is active in a number of professional organizations.

NASPA is the largest professional organization of student affairs administrators in higher education, with 11,000 members at 1,400 campuses in 29 countries. The profession focuses on integrating student life and learning, and serving students through its core values of diversity, learning, collaboration, access, service, fellowship and the spirit of inquiry. Its members include professionals in housing and residence life, student unions, student activities, counseling, career development, orientation, enrollment management, racial and ethnic minority support services, retention, and assessment.

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Page updated on: 11/30/2007