New President Appointed at LDS Business College
January 13, 2009
Tuesday morning, December 9, by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and chairman of the executive committee of the Church Education System. The college's Assistant to the President John L. (Larry) Richards was appointed as the new president. This change in leadership will be effective on January 1, 2009.
Elder Nelson told the overflow crowd, "With great love and affection for this man who's served 17 years as president of this college, we announce he is retiring….President Woodhouse and Sister Woodhouse have qualified for all our Heavenly Father has in store for his faithful children." Announcing the appointment of President Richards, Elder Nelson said, "We on the board of trustees feel very good with this appointment. We have every confidence in John Larry Richards and are pleased to present him to you as our appointment."
Addressing the overflow crowd in the meeting, President Richards spoke of the appointment, "I appreciate their confidence and trust, and pledge to do my best to live up to that trust." To the students he said, "I love you students more than I can express. I pledge to serve you."
President Richards began his service at the 122-year-old college in 2002 as a business department faculty member, bringing a depth of firsthand knowledge and experience from the banking industry. A native of Salt Lake City, he attended the University of Utah, earning a BS degree with an emphasis in organizational communication. He also played an active role in student government there. In 2007, he earned a master's degree in education from Capella University with an emphasis in educational leadership and curriculum.
In 1977, President Richards commenced a 24-year career in banking. During those years he was president/CEO and director of four banks, and interim CEO of a California-based life insurance company. In 2002, he joined the College in the business department, teaching courses in micro and macro economics, electronic commerce, sales and customer relations, business law, entrepreneurship, and business finance. He became director of the business skills program in 2004, which grants an Associates of Applied Science in Business degree.
President Richards' teaching abilities were recognized in 2003 and 2006 when students awarded him the college's Teacher of the Year Award. In 2002, students also awarded him the Everyday Excellence Award. In 2006, he accepted an appointment of assistant to the president, responsible for faculty, student life, institutional research, and planning.
President Richards has a long history of community service, and has served in numerous church positions. He currently serves as bishop in his ward. He and his wife, Julie Victor of Brigham City, are parents of two children.
Former President Woodhouse was appointed as president of LDS Business College on December 12, 1991; he began on January 2, 1992. He was an instructor in the college's computer information systems department two years prior; he spent a total of 19 years at the college, 17 of them as president.
During the meeting, President Woodhouse told of the first time he walked onto the campus to apply for a faculty position. "I knew instantly this was the place I wanted to spend the rest of my career." He noted that the college has grown from the 600 students in 1992 to nearly 1400 today. "The college has a wonderful future. I know this work is important because you are the future of this world," he said, adding, "I love the college. And I love the time I've had with you.
During President Woodhouse's inauguration held in 1992, President Thomas S. Monson charged him to "prepare with prayer, teach with testimony, compete with competence, and lead with love."
President Woodhouse, the 11th president of the 122-year-old college, made many significant changes during his 17 years of service. One of the most visible was the relocation of the college to the Triad campus at 300 West North Temple in July 2006.
President Woodhouse also increased the level of private funding, oversaw a long period of enrollment growth, improved retention and student services, expanded staff support, increased the college's involvement in the Church Education System, developed a stronger downtown presence, and implemented service learning as part of a growing curriculum.
Born in Payson, Utah on June 17, 1940, President Woodhouse is the son of William Howard and Marie Cloward Woodhouse. His father passed away on New Year's Eve of 1946. He eventually attended University of Utah on a four-year full tuition scholarship, graduating in 1965 with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics, and minors in physics and German. He earned a master's degree in business administration in 1966 from the University of Utah.
President Woodhouse married Sytske Saskia Van Zyverden in the Salt Lake Temple in 1966. During what he considers one of the most eventful weeks of his life in June of 1966 he received his MBA degree, was married on his birthday, and went to work for IBM Corporation.
He worked as a systems engineer for IBM Corporation from 1966 to 1969 and a marketing representative from 1969 to 1972. Using this training, he co-founded Telesystems Corporation in 1972, a data processing services company specializing in stock brokerage, construction, accounting, and wholesale distribution.
Active in scouting, President Woodhouse was awarded the Boy Scouts of America Lone Peak District Award of Merit on November 7, 1986 for outstanding service to youth of the community through idealism and citizenship. He was a staff member on the Scouting National Jamboree committee at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, in 1985 and was appointed Scouting District Commissioner of the Lone Peak District in 1990.
President Woodhouse, an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has held leadership responsibilities as a bishop, member of a stake presidency member, and Scoutmaster. He currently serves as ward mission leader. As a youth, he completed a full-time LDS in the West Germany mission. The Woodhouses have six children.
