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Richard Pappas
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Richard Pappas

President, Davenport University

Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D., is president of Davenport University, a private, nonprofit university founded in 1866 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With enrollment of nearly 6,500 students on campuses across Michigan and online, Davenport specializes in innovative undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for in-demand careers in business, technology, health, and urban education.

Under Dr. Pappas’ leadership, Davenport has implemented quality measures that have elevated its academic programming, student support, market position, and financial strength. Davenport’s graduation rate has increased by more than 174% since his arrival, and student retention, student satisfaction, and philanthropic giving are at all-time highs. In fact, Davenport recently earned the 2020 Malcolm Baldrige State Quality Award, the first university in Michigan to earn this recognition, and is currently a finalist for the national honor. Davenport University was also recently honored with a National Institutional Transformation Award by the American Council on Education and Fidelity Investments.

Dr. Pappas has more than 40 years of experience in higher education, including 32 as a college and university president. Prior to joining Davenport in 2009, he served as president of National-Louis University (NLU) in Chicago, Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland.