Joliet 5-1-13

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INSIDE

SPORTS West wins with walkoff PAGE 11

NEWS Joliet may cut thousands of ash trees

ONLINE More news at buglenewspapers.com

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www.jolietbugle.com

Our Community, Our News

MAY 1, 2013

Vol. 5 No. 35

CARRYING THE LIGHT FORWARD Arvid Johnson ready to take helm at the University of St. Francis By Nick Reiher Managing Editor

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NICK REIHER/MANAGING EDITOR

Arvid Johnson of Frankfort, Lincoln-Way High School Board president, will become the ninth president of the University of St. Francis in Joliet after current President Michael Vinciguerra steps down May 31.

rvid Johnson pops into a meeting room in the Alumni/ Advancement Office at the University of St. Francis in Joliet. Despite the gloomy weather outside, Johnson — tall and bespectacled with a sharp suit — is beaming as he rushes in with his planner and a folded-up umbrella. “Sorry,” he says still smiling.“I’m still finding my way around here.” Johnson, 49, deserves a break on his directional difficulties inside USF’s stately Tower Hall. It was, after all, just two months ago that USF Board Chairman J.D. Ross introduced Johnson as the man who would take the helm when the much-revered Michael Vinciguerra retires May 31, a little more than 10 years after becoming USF’s eighth president. Vinciguerra said he knows he’s passing the torch to a worthy successor. “During my 11 years at the University of St. Francis, I have been committed to the

importance of Catholic, Franciscan higher education to progressing our community,”Vinciguerra said in a written statement.“I am gratified that the next president, Dr.Arvid Johnson, will continue that commitment and build on the strong foundation that has made us Joliet’s urban university with a national presence. “I wish Dr. Johnson all the best and know he will very soon come to love USF as much as I do.” The soon-to-be ninth president, Johnson barely contains his enthusiasm as he speaks of his new post and the greater opportunity he will have to experience a feeling that has driven most of his life: watching as the light goes on in the eyes of teachers he is mentoring, and then as they do the same with their own students. The Oak Lawn native first got that feeling when he tutored his peers as a National Honor Society student at Brother Rice High School in Chicago. “If you can tutor or teach, you See JOHNSON, page 4


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