Ursinus College Names Dr. Bobby Fong President

The Ursinus College Board of Trustees affirmed the appointment of Dr. Bobby Fong as the College's 13^th President. Dr. Fong, currently president of Butler University in Indiana, plans to assume the Ursinus presidency at the end of this academic year.

Chair of the Ursinus Trustees Spencer Foreman M.D., told the campus and greater community that he "couldn't be more delighted . . .  To find a sitting president with nearly a decade of experience in a small university setting to become our 13th leader, has been our good fortune."

Dr. Fong comes to Ursinus with superior leadership credentials. President at Butler University in Indiana since 2001, he is an internationally known as a scholar of the writer Oscar Wilde.

"I have been privileged to be associated with Butler through a decade of remarkable progress," Dr. Fong told his campus.  "Ursinus sought a president to lead it in a strategic planning process, a comprehensive fundraising campaign, and an effort to raise its profile in the local community and nationally.  Butler gave me experience in these areas.  The invitation from Ursinus also takes me back to my roots in liberal arts colleges and to family on the east coast. 

 "Ursinus is recognized for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and for its curricular innovations," he added. "It aims to prepare students from all backgrounds for lives of leadership and service. I consider it a privilege to be asked to join in furthering the endeavors of such a college. 

 The son of Chinese immigrants, the Harvard-educated Dr. Fong is among a small percentage of Asian American college presidents in the U.S. He began his academic career at Berea College in Kentucky, where he taught from 1978-1989. He gained administrative experience as a National Fellow and assistant program director for the Association of American Colleges in Washington, D.C.  After serving as professor of English and Dean of Arts and Humanities at Hope College in Holland, Mich. from 1989-1995, Fong accepted a position as Dean of the Faculty and Professor of English at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., from whence he accepted the Butler presidency in 2001.

 In his 10 years as Butler's president, Dr. Fong has led Butler University to unprecedented heights, including successive balanced budgets, two successful strategic planning processes, an endowment that has doubled in size, and record years for both the number of entering freshmen and fundraising. Additionally, Butler experienced a significant expansion of academic and student facilities.  He also provided leadership in a record-setting human capital campaign that raised $154 million.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa and the recipient of numerous honors, Dr. Fong's national professional activities have included serving on the boards of the American Council on Education, the Association of American Colleges, including a year as Chair, and on the board of many civic organizations in the Indiana region.

He is the editor of Poems and Poems in Prose, volume one in the Oxford English Texas edition of the Complete Works of Oscar Wilde, and the author of several essays and monographs on literature, higher education, religion and baseball. He is also widely known as an avid and respected collector of baseball cards, and he has been a member of the Indianapolis Indians Board of Directors since 2004.

Dr. Fong earned his undergraduate degree in English magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1973, and a Ph.D. in English at University of California-Los Angeles in 1978.

Dr. Fong, who grew up in Oakland, Calif., and his spouse, Suzanne Dunham Fong, an attorney who grew up in Maryland, have two children, Jonathan and Colin.

From left to right: Blend owner Ryan DeFrain; property owner Vince Raffeo and CEDC President Debbie Riegner

Golden Brush Awards Presented to Business and Property Owners 

The Collegeville Main Street Program (CMSP) Design Committee honored Vince Raffeo, owner of 454 East Main Street, Collegeville and Ryan DeFrain, owner of Blend Café, 454 East Main Street, Collegeville with Golden Brush awards on Tuesday, October 19 at the monthly Board of Director's meeting.   

The Golden Brush award was developed by the CMSP Design Committee to acknowledge those who have done an exceptional job in maintaining, renovating, or updating their Main Street Property.  The two were chosen for the work done to the overall building and to the business housed in the building.

Karen McCaslin, Design Committee member shared that Mr. Raffeo and Mr. DeFrain invested a great deal of money into improving the overall appearance of the property.  "The new stucco work, shutters, and painting, along with the tasteful awning and signage of Blend adds to the appeal of downtown; the before and after photos are quite dramatic."

Recipients of the Golden Brush Award receive a gold brush to be displayed prominently for others to see.  A removable sign is also placed in front of their property announcing that they are winners of the award.  The sign has encouraged people to stop in and inquire about the award as well as extend congratulations.  

Bumpout construction begins.  Pedestrians will be able to cross safely at this designated area.

• in the municipal parking lot located at Main and E. 3rd Avenue
• Behind 373 East Main Street (King Laird, P.C.)
• On-street parking on 4th Avenue

Don't let the construction detour you from visiting our friendly businesses.  They are all open during construction.  

Main Street Happenings

DaVinci's Pub 

For a complete entertainment listing visit DaVinci's Entertainment.

Collegeville Station Hemingway's 

For a complete entertainment listing visit Hemingway's Entertainment.

 

Blend Cafe

Check out their special brews each day. 

For more information visit .