Iron Arrow Spring 2012 Luncheon Speaker

Dr. Richard B. Artman

Born the son of hardworking Catholic parents in Pittsburgh, Artman learned early in life the importance of family, the Church, and hard work. He went on to the University of Miami, where he earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, a graduate degree in college student personnel, and a doctorate in the administration of higher education. Rick was tapped into Iron Arrow in Fall 1969, in the midst of a time of turmoil and tumult at the University as well as the country. Rick was Iron Arrow Medicine Man in 1971-72, served as Vice President for Omicron Delta Kappa, was a battalion commander in the Army ROTC program, a resident assistant and an intramural football official. Truly, Rick was a man for all seasons here at the U!

He began his professional career at his alma mater, where he served as residence life area coordinator, assistant dean of students and international student advisor, acting dean of students, university ombudsman, and assistant to the vice president of student affairs.

In 1982, Artman accepted the position of vice president for student affairs and assistant professor of education at Nebraska Wesleyan University, a post that exposed him to the many areas of university administration. He stayed there 12 years before being named president of Siena Heights University in 1994. Siena Heights is a Catholic Dominican University located in Adrian, Michigan.

At Siena Heights University he earned a strong reputation for his leadership and his fundraising abilities. During his 12 year tenure, Artman oversaw the transformation of Siena Heights from a college to a university, numerous facility upgrades, an increased sense of Catholic identity, and a complete overhaul of the school’s technology, making it the first university in Michigan to be completely wireless.

Following his years of service to Siena Heights University, Richard Bruce Artman was appointed as Viterbo University’s eighth president July 1, 2006. Founded and sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA), Viterbo is a Catholic, Franciscan University in the liberal arts tradition.

Throughout his career, he has been an active member of a number of professional and civic organizations and has served on a variety of professional and community boards, commissions, and task forces. He served a number of years on the executive committee and 2 years as president of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents, the governing body for the 300 college members of the NAIA. He serves on the executive committee of the Board of Directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU).

He and his wife, Joan, who works as a registered nurse, are a team in every sense of the word, and she has been invaluable to his success as university president and being a better man. The Artmans have two adult children, Darin and Joy, and four grandchildren, Braxton, Alexi, Jordan, and Zachary.