After three years as a hardworking Chairman for the Board of Visitors and Governors, Clifton Schroeder is retiring from his position. He will continue to serve on the board as a regular member from his home in Richmond, Virginia.
"I think younger people should be doing this sort of thing, with younger ideas," Schroeder said by way of explaining his retirement.
He added that he will turn 70 this summer.Schroeder has served on the board for eleven years, and as the Chairman since Louis Goldstein's death three years ago in 1998. "He was then a very active and effective member of the board," recalled President John Toll, adding, "he served as vice-chairman under Louis Goldstein.
Cliff was a marvelous board member and vice chair, and after Louis Goldstein's death he assumed the chair and was very effective.""To succeed Louis Goldstein was difficult since Louis Goldstein had a tremendous following and was a very effective chairman," Toll added. "But Cliff Schroeder kept things going very well so the board operated just as effectively. He was always willing to make extra time available for . . . activities with the college. He thought it was time now that he had stabilized things to pass the torch."
Toll reminisced that when he met Schroeder, "this was a very critical period as we were in the early stages of a campaign, and Cliff Schroeder gave it emphasis. He was good at getting board members involved in activities." Toll also pointed out that "since his home was in Richmond, Virginia, he was particularly helpful in organizing the Virginia chapter of alumni."
Other aspects of Schroeder's involvement with WC have been his commitment to environmental aspects to the school and the restoration of the Custom House. "He was particularly supportive of the major in Environmental Studies and then of the new Center for Society and Environment," Toll said.
In addition to Schroeder's support of environmental programs at WC, he is also actively involved in protection of the environment in his home state of Virginia. "I'm busy with a lot of environmental initiatives," Schroeder said recently. "I'm the chair of the Virginia Chesapeake Bay Board, and I'm on the Virginia Legislative Commission for the Environment."
In Schroeder's stead, Jay Griswald will take over on the board on July 1. He is currently the chairman of the Campaign for Washington's College, and will continue in that position as well. "Cliff Schroeder will be ready with guidance and support for him," Toll said, adding "Jay Griswald will continue the very fine momentum the board had under Cliff Schroeder's leadership."
Toll also saluted Schroeder outside of his work with WC. "He's a broadly educated, very intelligent business leader," Toll said. "I found every conversation with him was exciting and interesting."
"I think college is a markedly different place than it was eight or ten years ago," Schroeder said. "I've been honored and privileged by that job. You students have a wonderful school."
Schroeder added that the favorite part of his job has been, "we've had great people to work with . . . that's the reward you have." Schroeder also thanked the president, Provost and Dean of the college Joachim Scholz, new Chairman Jay Griswald, John Mogue, and Sherry Kerr.
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