Ronald Crutcher

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Ronald Andrew Crutcher (born February 27, 1947) is an American classical musician and academic administrator who served as president of Wheaton College from 2004 to 2014,^[2] and professor of music and 10th President of the University of Richmond from 2015 to 2021.^[3] He is currently a Senior Fellow at The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program.^[4]

Crutcher was born in Cincinnati, Ohio,in 1947. He started learning the cello at the age of 15 under the tutelage of Professor Elizabeth Potteiger at Miami University.^[5]

Crutcher is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate^[6] of Miami University,^[7] where he graduated with honours cum laude. Crutcher went on to pursue graduate studies at Yale University, receiving support as a Woodrow Wilson and Ford Foundation Fellow. In 1979, he made history as the first cellist to receive the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Yale.^[8] He was also awarded a Fulbright Award and became fluent in German, continuing his education at the University of Bonn.^[9]

Crutcher was associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro from 1987 to 1990. He then became Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1990–1994 and served as director of the School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin from 1994-1999.^[10]

Crutcher then worked at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, serving as provost, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and professor of music. While at Miami University, Crutcher coordinated the First in 2009 strategic vision process for the University and established the Center for American and World Cultures.^[11]

From 2004 to 2014, Crutcher served as the president of Wheaton College. During his 10-year tenure, he led a fundraising campaign that raised $137.6 million, the largest in the institution’s history, including $37 million for the Mars Center^[12] and $53.3 million for scholarships, plus several million dollars for athletic facilities, career services, and faculty-mentored research. The campaign also achieved a 72% rate of alumni participation.^[4]

In 2015, Crutcher was named the 10th president of the University of Richmond, succeeding Edward L. Ayers. In March 2021, the University of Richmond announced that Dr. Crutcher would step down as president on August 15. He was succeeded by Kevin Hallock, dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.^[13]

Crutcher is also the founding co-chair of the Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) initiative,^[14] housed in the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).