Awards

Bicentennial Medal - 2019

About Laurence D. Richards

Laurence Richards is professor emeritus and former interim chancellor of IU East. Richards earned a B.S. from the University of Maine, M.S. from the University of West Florida, M.B.A. from Mississippi State University, and Ph.D. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In between degrees, Richards served in the U.S. Marines as a pilot and flight instructor (1968-1974), earning the award of Naval Aviator in 1970.

Upon completion of his Ph.D., Richards began his career as a university professor and higher education administrator. He has served at La Salle University (1978-1979), Colby College (1980-1984), and Old Dominion University in Virginia (1984-1997), where he was the founding chair of the newly created Department of Engineering Management. In 1997, he accepted a position at Bridgewater State University as the founding dean of the School of Management and Aviation Science (1997-2014). During this period he also served as acting vice president for academic affairs (2000-2002).

Richards came to IUE in 2004 as executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of management and informatics. He was responsible for enrollment services and dean of students (2008-2015), and also served as interim chancellor of IU East (2012-2013). Richards also served as interim vice chancellor and dean of Indiana University - Purdue University Columbus (2015-2016) before retiring as professor emeritus of management and informatics in 2016.

Beyond Indiana University, Richards has served in several professional and civic organizations. He was a member of the American Society for Cybernetics (president, 1986-1988) and the American Society for Engineering Management (president, 1998-1999). He served on the Board of Aviation Commissioners in Richmond, IN., and served on the regional board of trustees for Ivy Tech Community College Richmond. Richards is a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Management, was awarded the Norbert Wiener Medal from the American Society for Cybernetics, and named an Academician of the International Academy for the Systems and Cybernetics Sciences.

Richards received the IU Bicentennial Medal in September 2019 in recognition of his distinguished service as interim chancellor of IU East.