FAREWELL TO PRESIDENT MESSITTE

ME M O RI ES

of President Zach Messitte

President Zach Messitte left Ripon College at the end of the fall semester to return to his hometown of Washington, D.C. During his nine-year tenure, major achievements included:

• Imagine Tomorrow campaign raised $67 million, the most successful fundraising campaign in the College’s history.

• Endowment nearly doubled, now valued at an all-time high of $116 million.

• Willmore Center athletics, health and wellness facility renovated/constructed.

• Renovations and upgrades to nearly every building on campus — including the Franzen Center for Academic Success in Lane Library.

• Catalyst curriculum debuted in fall 2016.

• Growth in diversity and inclusion in faculty, staff and near doubling in the student body.

• Center for Politics and the People initiated in 2013.

• Career Discovery Tour, connecting students and alumni across the county, and Liberal Arts in Focus, short overseas study with faculty. He led multiple student groups to Italy.

• Taught courses in international relations, media and Italian.

• Co-edited two books, co-wrote one book and published numerous articles in state and national media.

But he also touched lives — from the classroom, to campus and community events, to personal visits with alumni around the country. Here, Ripon College alumni and staff share some of their special moments with our 13th president.

I was fortunate to be the president of the Alumni Board of Directors when Zach was inaugurated in 2012. His first boss, George Tenet, former director of the CIA, was in attendance and processed to the stage with a small group of us. As we neared the front of the stage, someone’s cell phone started ringing. In such a serious moment, full of pomp and circumstance, we all shared a look of “Really???” With a serious and deadpan demeanor, Mr. Tenet broke the stress of the moment by saying something along the lines of, “Back in the day, I would have had to take that call,” as he silenced the ringtone.

Given the weight of his past work, we all shared a chuckle and continued on with the procession. I can only imagine what kind of calls a guy like that would have gotten in his past life.

Nick Spaeth ’04

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

George Tenet, foreground, and Zach Messitte at Messitte’s inauguration.

I’m a 2005 graduate of Ripon College, so before President Messitte arrived in Ripon. In 2013, I was elected mayor of Columbus, Wisconsin. The very next day after the election, President Messitte sent me an email congratulating me on my election. I thought it was a very nice gesture but also shows the importance of the College maintaining connections to alumni.

Kelly Crombie ’05

I have to say that over my four years, the best thing to see would be his baby blue moped that he drove around. If the moped was parked, you knew he was there! Not to mention him carrying around his matching helmet!

Alaura Lemieux ’20

Luck, Wisconsin

Favorite memory is when he and Shawn (Karsten ’09, vice president for Advancement, and Marketing and Communications) would visit us in Florida.

Chuck Van Zoeren ’53

Kalamazoo, Michigan

In 2015, Messitte attends a student’s class after swapping daily schedules with William Penterman ’18 in President for the Day.

Emma Bronson ’17 rides the mechanical bull.

I graduated in 2017 and this was during my junior year. I was the president of Greek Council and we were running a fundraiser event. We had rented a mechanical bull that was out on Memorial Lawn and everyone was paying money to take chances of riding this mechanical bull; all the proceeds were being donated. It also happened to be the same day that the Trustees and Messitte were breaking ground on Willmore Center. Messitte pulls up in a full suit of clothes on his moped and I pleaded and convinced him to jump on the mechanical bull for everyone to see. He did agree, but he needs to work on his bull-riding skills for the future!

Emma Bronson ’17

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

President’s Ice Cream Social in August 2012. I don’t think Zach was appropriately ready for his first Wisconsin winter. I remember seeing him trying to negotiate the steps of Smith Hall, I believe, in an early bout of snow, in some of the fine Italian shoes that he is so fond of wearing. It prompted me to contact my friends at Russell Moccasins in Berlin to get him and his wife a couple of pairs of something more suitable for Wisconsin winters.

Peter W. Tuz ’76

Charlottesville, Virginia Ripon College Board of Trustees

Zach Messitte and guests previewed the site where Willmore Center will be built.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Zach in a variety of contexts. I was in the room when he had to make some of his most difficult decisions as president and also when he got to share exciting news related to big projects like funding for Willmore Center. But my favorite memories of Zach are not of those momentous times, but rather of the little moments, like the time he told me about his adventure riding the fan bus when he was studying an Italian basketball team. His face beamed while he shared that story. I recognized the look on his face: it’s the same joy he wears when he zips around town on his little blue scooter. Whether on a bus, a scooter or anything in between, ride safely and happily through your next journey, my friend!