CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Arthur R. Taylor and the board of trustees of Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., negotiated Taylor's departure as president, and Dr. David M. Long Jr. resigned as chair of the board of trustees. The actions came at a special meeting of the Muhlenberg College board of trustees July 12, according to a Muhlenberg College news release.
Muhlenberg is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Taylor had been president since August 1992. Long will remain as a member of the board of trustees.
Kent Dyer, vice president for finance, Muhlenberg College, was named acting president. A national search for Taylor's replacement will begin immediately, the release said.
The board of trustees held a special meeting last month to discuss Taylor's future with the college, according to a report in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The board met again July 12, and Taylor resigned, the Chronicle report said. John M. Heffer, the new chair of the board of trustees, would not comment on what prompted the board to meet either time, the Chronicle said.
"Most trustees felt a change was warranted," said John Heffer, chair, and Rich Brueckner, vice chair, Muhlenberg board of trustees. "Muhlenberg College has achieved spectacular results during Arthur Taylor's presidency. Arthur had tremendous vision and brought the college to new heights. The college is flourishing. The trustees, alumni, faculty and staff are extremely grateful for the efforts of Dr. Long and Arthur Taylor."
"We are confident that Muhlenberg College will maintain its momentum and its place among highly selective liberal arts colleges," they added.
During Taylor's tenure as Muhlenberg's 10th president, the college nearly tripled its endowment, halved its debt and saw a spectacular rise in student quality, the news release said. Since his arrival, the college completed a $23 million fund drive and is in the midst of a $70 million capital campaign, with more than $37 million already raised, the news release said.
Taylor came to Muhlenberg from Fordham University, New York, where he served eight years as dean of the Graduate School of Business. Prior to that, he served as President of CBS Inc., and was the founder of the Entertainment Channel, now the Arts and Entertainment Network. Taylor began his business career at The First Boston Corporation where he served as vice president and a director. He was also executive vice president and chief financial officer of International Paper Company.
He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University, Providence, R.I., where he also earned his master's degree. He has served on the board of dozens of corporate and philanthropic organizations. -- -- --
* Michael S. Bruckner, vice president, public relations, Muhlenberg College, contributed to this report.
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