Friday, a stunned and saddened Carlisle community reacted to the news that Dickinson College's president, William Durden, had announced his retirement.

"I was disappointed to learn of Bill's announcement, because he is such an integral part of the whole Carlisle community and he's really been a key to making things happen," Carlisle Borough Council President Perry Heath said.

"He's brought international notoriety for our community as well as Dickinson College and we will certainly take full advantage of the remainder of his service until his retirement," Heath said. "He's certainly very deserving of a long and healthy retirement and he will be missed."

Durden will retire June 30, 2013, according to the announcement from the college Wednesday night.

14 years

Durden, an alumnus of the Class of 1971, became president in 1999. In his 14 years' tenure, he has been credited with working closely with the borough, the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and community organizations to build a better community and a better college.

"Dickinson College has made such great strides in diversity and academic excellence under President Durden's leadership that it has been all the easier for The Dickinson School of Law to do the same," said Philip J. McConnaughay, dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law at the law school, in an email to The Sentinel Friday.

"We share an academic and scholarly community today with the College and the U.S. Army War College that is rich in collaborative relationships that benefit our students, our faculties, and the entire community of Carlisle. Bill Durden has been a leader in this effort, and in the economic resurgence of Carlisle, and we all are better for it. He's been an extraordinary president."

Borough Council members, many of whom have served their entire time on council during Durden's presidency, had glowing accolades for him.

"He really ‘got' us as a community and as a borough," said Councilman Tim Scott. "He understood that where the college went, the borough went and vice versa. He knew partnership with us was very important."

Before Durden's tenure, the college and its students had a less-than-desireable reputation, "and he worked to turn around that image," Scott added.

"He was supportive of my idea for a student ambassador. He's very valuable to us as a leader in the borough. I'm sorry to see him go," Scott said.

"He's been terrific to work with and we wish him all the best," said Councilman Don Grell. "I wish they could convince him to stay longer. He's a tremendous asset to the community and personally enjoyable to work with. He draws the best out of people from what I've seen."

Surprise

"My first thought was that I was very honored to have been at Dickinson during his tenure, that I would get to finish during the Durden years," said student Jake Sternberger, a member of the Class of 2012.

"I believe he's going to go down as one of greatest presidents of Dickinson College," he added.

"Bill Durden is a leader of the first order, a President of the first order, and a model Dickinsonian," Sternberger added in a written statement.

Alumni also remember the bow-tie bedecked president fondly.

"President Durden took an immediate interest in WDCV and wanted to host a talk show, which I facilitated as producer and a ‘voice behind the glass,'" said Patrick Cummings, Class of 2002.

"He was tremendously engaging, with the station management and through his program, and it was a key effort in increasing WDCV's profile. The show he hosted after 9/11 was really something, when he interviewed Professor David Commins, who was on a sabbatical in Saudi Arabia at the time. President Durden was incredibly journalistic about the entire process, knowing that a guest on the show from Saudi Arabia, at that time, was a coup."

Tools

Amy Farrell, a professor of American Studies who has been at college since 1991, also commented on Durden's retirement.

"He's been a spectacular president," she said. "He has intellectual vision and a vision for the growth and stability of this college. He has been a wonderful president to work with."

The college is already in the process of figuring out how the next president will be chosen, a task Durden's leadership has made easier.

In his email to the campus community Thursday night, Durden wrote, "You shall be hearing more about the search process for the next president from Board Chair Jennifer Reynolds; however, let me express my enthusiasm, as soon-to-be former president and an alumnus, about what lies ahead. I know that the selection committee will secure an outstanding leader to continue the college's momentum and accomplishments. I appreciated the graciousness with which my immediate predecessor, A. Lee. Fritschler, facilitated our transition some 13 years ago. I intend to extend the same courtesy to the person who follows me. As much as possible, I shall work in cooperation with the new president as soon as she or he is appointed."

"He has given us the tools. The college is in a good place right now," Farrell said. "He set us up all to be leaders in selecting who next president will be. We're grateful for leadership. We will sorely miss him, but can tell him that by carrying on mission in making this a great place for generations to come."

Russell "Rusty" Shunk, retired executive vice president for college and community development, echoed those sentiments.

"In the style of his muse, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Bill will be mightily embarrassed by the many good things people will say about him in the next 18 months.

"He is one of those true leaders who has the ability to dream and then to implement the dream. He will say it was all about the team work of an excellent faculty and staff, and that's true to a large extent, but without his vision and leadership, Dickinson would not be the outstanding national liberal arts college it is today," Shunk said.

"As already noted in today's (Friday's) article (in The Sentinel), it was his vision for a greater relationship with Carlisle and the region to establish the office of college and community development, the function and the commitment for which continues out of the President's Office to this day. It was a pleasure to work for and to work with Bill."

Benjamin Rush

Dickinson College's co-founder, Benjamin Rush, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In his email, Durden quoted Rush, saying, "Many of you know about my keen interest in the founder of Dickinson, Dr. Benjamin Rush. Some of his words are perhaps appropriate reference at this moment. While I certainly do not compare the magnitude of his life to mine, I note that Dr. Rush wrote about each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He dedicated fulsome paragraphs to each. But of himself he said merely, ‘He aimed well.' About my time at the college I say, ‘I aimed.'"