Fritch to assume presidency in 2025 following retirement of longtime president Dr. Ken Tucker
The baby直播 (UWA) Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Todd G. Fritch as the next president of the institution. Following a comprehensive national search and rigorous selection process, the UWA Board of Trustees unanimously voted in its Sept. 18 meeting to approve the resolution to name Fritch as the institution’s thirteenth president beginning in 2025.
Fritch succeeds Dr. Ken Tucker, who has served as president since January 2015 and will retire at the end of 2024.
Fritch brings to UWA a wealth of experience and a distinguished track record in higher education. He holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Baylor University, where he also earned his M.S. in Geology. Additionally, Fritch completed the Institute for Educational Management (IEM) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in July 2022. He earned his B.S. in Geology, cum laude, from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
Previously, Fritch served as Executive Vice President and Provost at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, where he was instrumental in driving academic excellence and fostering a culture of inclusivity and engagement. Prior roles include serving as Chief Academic Officer and Vice President at Shorelight Education, and as Provost at American International College. Fritch has also held senior academic positions at The American College of Greece and Northeastern University.
Throughout his career, Fritch has shown an unwavering dedication to student success, faculty growth, and community collaboration. He has received numerous awards and has a robust background in fund development. This expertise enables him to promote growth at UWA by utilizing his extensive experience in securing financial resources and building valuable partnerships.
Fritch has also been actively involved in various professional and community service roles, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation and the Bradenton YMCA. He has been recognized with several honors and awards, including the Chancellor鈥檚 Best Practice Award for Workforce Partnerships from the Florida Department of Education in 2019 and the Outstanding Alumni Award from Lake Superior State University in 2016.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Todd G. Fritch as the new president of the baby直播,” said Hal Bloom, Chair of the UWA Board of Trustees. “His extensive experience, dynamic leadership, and unwavering commitment to academic excellence make him the ideal choice to lead our university into the future. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the search committee for their diligent work and to the entire UWA community for their patience and support throughout this process. The board’s unanimous vote is a testament to our confidence in Dr. Fritch’s ability to steer UWA toward new heights of success and impact.”
Fritch expressed his enthusiasm about joining the UWA community, stating, “I am deeply honored to have been chosen to lead the baby直播. This institution has a rich history and a bright future, and I am excited to work alongside the talented faculty, dedicated staff, and inspiring students to build on its legacy of excellence. Together, we will continue to foster a vibrant learning environment that empowers our students to achieve their full potential and make a positive impact on the world.鈥�
Fritch will officially assume his role as president on January 2, 2025. He and his family are looking forward to becoming an active part of the West baby直播 community.