President Richard V. Hurley announced in April that he will retire at the end of the current academic year. At Mary Washington for 16 years, he has served as president since July 1, 2010. Previously, he served twice as acting president, as well as executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer of the UMW Foundation.
President Richard V. Hurley meets with students and parents during a recent freshman orientation. (Norm Shafer)
Hurley has presided over the institution during a time of nearly unprecedented capital expansion. Projects include the completion of the Anderson Center and the University Center; the design and construction of Mary Washington’s third campus, the Dahlgren Campus Center for Education and Research in King George County; and construction of the 72,000-square-foot Information and Technology Convergence Center. In honor of the ninth president’s service, the UMW Board of Visitors voted at its September meeting to rename that building the Hurley Convergence Center.
“President Hurley has made an indelible impact at Mary Washington,” said Rector Holly Tace Cuellar ’89. “We wanted to recognize his accomplishments with one of our highest tributes to a president.” She continued, “History will show that his tenure as president was the perfect pairing of strategic vision, innovation, and productivity.”
Cuellar heads a 20-member presidential search advisory committee, which is partnering with Baker and Associates in a nationwide pursuit of the institution’s 10th president.
In announcing his retirement, Hurley said, “I believe that 2016 is the right time, both for the University and for me, to effect this transition. I am confident that I will have achieved the primary goals I established for my presidency, including the completion of our $50 million Mary Washington First campaign.”
He told the board he looks forward to spending time with wife Rose, who also has been a tireless ambassador for UMW, their three adult children, and seven grandchildren.
Hurley has been a hands-on and highly visible president, engaging regularly with students and visitors to campus. He helps on move-in day, shows up in the student dining room, occasionally calls bingo, assists with student service projects, and enjoys attending University events, such as sports contests, plays, concerts, lectures, and student programs.
During his presidency, the University of Mary Washington has continued to garner widespread media recognition as one of the nation’s best public liberal arts and sciences universities and one of the top values in higher education.