University President Donald Ayo announced his plans for retirement to the members of the Nicholls community, on Monday, Oct. 7, in Talbot Theater.
Effective June 30, 2003, Ayo will end his 20 year tenure with the University, the longest in Nicholls’ history. He is also the first Nicholls graduate to become a university president.
“I have submitted a letter announcing my decision to retire to the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System,” Ayo said.
The Board of Trustees requires a university president to let them know six months in advance of plans for retirement, and committess are made to discuss replacemeent efforts and prospects.
“As far as I remember, it included students, faculty and local community members, as far as getting input for the type of person that they are looking for,” Ayo said.
When Ayo began his presidency in 1983, he said he would focus on the University’s academic growth of programs and faculty. At the time, his biggest challenge was to maintain the level of quality and academic excellence that the University was accustomed to despite budget cuts.
In 1983, he spelled out his long range plans to include working towards department accreditation, more workshops and short courses. He also planned to focus on the business community in its relationship with the University, and he wanted to enhance professorship.
Under his leadership, two colleges and seven departments have either kept their accreditation status or have been granted full accreditation. Ayo has worked with Chef John Folse to establish the Chelf John Folse Culinary Institute, and various business owners to gain endowed chairs, professorships and the naming of several buildings on campus.
While in office his highest priority was to make the aspirations of the faculty, staff and students possible, he said.
“It is with heartfelt dedication that I have committed myself to serving this great University. I have achieved many goals as president, and I believe that my successor will have a strong foundation upon which to build,” Ayo said.
Ayo said the decision was a personal one and that it reflected what he “wanted to do at this time.”
Ayo said he has plans to write a book about his experiences after retirement.
“There are also several options that have become available that I am going to consider, but before all of that I want to finish up working for Nicholls,” he said.
Although Ayo considers the passing of the recreational center a plus, it had no bearing on his decision to retire. However, the culinary institution expansion is something that Ayo would like to see come to completion.
“I think we are going to get that whole amount of money before next June. That is what my goal is,” Ayo said.
Ayo will leave Nicholls with 20 years worth of support from family members, friends and the Nicholls community.
“The quality of the students we have here, their desire to learn and the fact that they are really a fine student body, the wonderful faculty and staff who support all of the efforts that take place on this campus, and things we are most proud of like accreditation’s, the number of endowed chairs and professorships and scholarships, and the fact that we have great financial records with the legislative auditor, I think those are the highlights of my tenure,” he said.
Ayo thanked his family for their support, and his friends for their loyalty to Nicholls.
“I love all of you and wish you each the best in both your personal and professional lives,” he said. Editor’s Note: Some information for this article was taken from the 1983 edition of La Pirogue.