Ronald A. Crutcher

Profile Updated: July 19, 2022
Residing In: Henrico, VA USA
Spouse/Partner: Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher
Homepage: http://president.richmond.edu
Occupation: President Emeritus and University Professor
Children: Sara Elizabeth Neal Crutcher, born 1984
Comments:

Miami University from 1965-69: Music and German Major
Received a Woodrow Wilson and Ford Foundation Fellowship to study at Yale University: received master's and doctorate degrees
Fulbright to Germany where I studied in Cologne, Bonn, and Frankfurt.
Lived in Germany from 1972 until 1977: taught at the Bonn Music School and was Principal Cellist of the Chur Coelnisches Kammerorchester
Returned to the USA in 1977 for a position as Assistant Professor of Music at Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro as Assistant Professor of Music in 1979. Was promoted and tenured there and began my administrative career there as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1988.
Married Betty Neal Crutcher in November of 1979.
Our daughter, Sara Elizabeth, arrived in 1984. I took a leave-of-absence from the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra(I was Associate Principal Cello), so that I would have more time to assist Betty with Sara.
Left UNCG for the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1990. Appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Conservatory.
Moved to the University of Texas at Austin as the first Director of the School of Music and the Hall Endowed Professor of Music in 1994.
Moved to Miami University as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1999.
Appointed President of Wheaton College in MA in February 2004.
Currently President Emeritus on sabbatical in Berlin, Germany for the year.
Elected the 10th President of the University of Richmond in February 2015. Begin on July 1, 2015.
I stepped down as President in August 2021. Currently, I am President Emeritus and University Professor on sabbatical until July 2023. In the fall of 2023, I will return to teach one course each semester at UR: a first-year seminar in music and an upper-class seminar in leadership in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.

School Story:

During my junior and senior years at Woodward, I played in the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. This was my first professional music position, and I had to join the Musician's Union in order to sign the contract. The Philharmonic practiced in the evenings, as it was a semi-professional orchestra (that is not all of its members were full-time musicians). I would ride to the rehearsals with Max Rabinowitz, who was at the time associate concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony. He would pick me up in front of Woodward.

On one particular evening of a Dayton Phil concert, I had a dress rehearsal for a play at Woodward. I had brought my tails with me, so at the end of the dress rehearsal I changed clothes and walked outside to meet Max. As I walked through the doors of the concert hall in Dayton, I noticed that everyone I encountered appeared to be staring at me; and I could not understand why. However, once I got downstairs to the dressing rooms and looked in the mirror I realized that I still had on heavy makeup from the dress rehearsal! Needless to say, I ran to the men's room and washed it off!!!

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Mar 01, 2024 at 12:44 PM

Happy birthday old friend. I appreciated seeing your path to success from Miami to the presidency. Live long and well.

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Mar 01, 2024 at 5:44 AM
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Feb 27, 2024 at 4:33 AM
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Jun 29, 2023 at 7:23 AM
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Mar 06, 2023 at 4:51 PM

Posted on: Feb 27, 2023 at 4:33 AM

Oct 03, 2022 at 8:54 AM

I am so sorry to hear about Lee's passing. He and reconnected at our reunion in 2000 when I was Provost and Miami University, and he was a professor at the University of Louisville. We stayed in contact for several years thereafter, but we lost contact after I moved to Germany. He was a good man and a fine scholar. My sincere condolences to his family.

Jul 19, 2022 at 10:56 AM
Jul 15, 2022 at 7:41 AM

Happy Birthday, Betsy!! I hope that you are well!!

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Feb 27, 2022 at 5:16 PM

Posted on: Feb 27, 2022 at 4:33 AM

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Jul 15, 2021 at 6:23 AM
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Apr 04, 2021 at 11:29 AM
Mar 04, 2021 at 10:34 AM

Your book arrived on "the shelf" outside my apartment yesterday evening. I've already skimmed through and find it fascinating. Your remembrance of Ann Davis stirs up many memories of my next door WHS neighbor - She was a fiercely independent woman. Today is set aside for organizing tax stuff and then I can tell you many stories of her strengths and biases. Do you have my e-mail - paulhendrick@fuse.net -?

Feb 27, 2021 at 4:33 AM
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Jan 26, 2021 at 3:37 PM

Posted on: Jan 26, 2021 at 12:23 PM

Ron - what a wonderful career, many accomplishments and experiences. I am greatly impressed. Everyone can achieve so much. I look forward to reading you book.

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Feb 23, 2021 at 11:36 AM

Posted on: Dec 07, 2020 at 6:15 AM

My thematic memoir will be published in 2021 by Clyde Hill Publishing. Here is a link to the announcement:
https://clydehillpublishing.com/product/no-idea-you-were-black/

Jun 10, 2020 at 7:45 AM

A very impressive career, Stephen! Congratulations on your retirement! Best wishes, Ron

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