Message from Don DeRosa, President

April 25, 2008

Dear Members of the Pacific Community:

Today I informed our Board of Regents of my decision to retire as President on June 30, 2009. The past 13 years have been the most rewarding of my professional life and I am deeply grateful for the privilege of serving Pacific as its 23rd President. My decision to retire a little over a year from now primarily reflects my desire to spend more time with Karen, my five children, and four grandchildren.

I plan to devote myself, over this next year, to advancing the University in areas of critical importance as identified in our strategic plan, Pacific Rising. In addition, after retirement, the Board has asked me to continue to help Pacific in an ongoing focused capacity and I am eager to do so. You can be assured that I will do all in my power, whenever called upon, to help strengthen our great University.

University of the Pacific is on the rise. The reinvigoration of the University over the last decade has been made possible by the dedication and hard work of all of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni from our three campuses, and for that reason, I thank each of you. As we look to the future, we can be certain that we are on the right course, one that will take us to even greater heights as we become the West's most distinctive student-centered national university.

With my deepest gratitude and appreciation,

Donald V. DeRosa
President