Published: November 21, 2008 08:59 pm      

Rafes resigns

ECU president accepts job in West Virginia

Ada — In an open letter addressed to faculty, staff and students, East Central University’s President Richard Rafes tendered his resignation Thursday. Rafes was chosen by the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’s (WVSOM) Board of Governors in Lewisburg to succeed Dr. Olen Jones as the school’s president.

Rafes’ last day as president of ECU will be January 31. He will begin his new position as head of WVSOM February 1.

“Since the notification, I have had to balance my strong personal and professional commitment to our university and Ada against an opportunity that I did not seek nor anticipate, but would fulfill a life long dream of becoming a president of a prestigious medical school,” said Rafes in his letter. “It was one of the toughest decisions we have ever made, but in the end, the close proximity to my wife’s sister and aging parents was the deciding factor in our decision to accept the new position.

“I am mindful that the timing of this decision is not optimum, but I am sure you understand that one cannot control when an opportunity arises and that this one was totally unexpected.

“WVSOM has agreed to extend the start date to February 1, 2009. My last official day at ECU will be January, 31, 2009. I will do everything I can to address the many pending issues before my departure.”

Rafes said in the letter that he and his wife Tommye were both proud of the many advances ECU has made over the past several years.

“We appreciated our many friends on campus and in the community,” he said. “The support from the Chickasaw Nation and so many others is remarkable.”

According to a press release issued by WVSOM yesterday, former president Jones will be stepping down January 9 after 21 years at the Lewisburg college. “I am thrilled to join the outstanding team of faculty and staff at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and work to further the institution’s mission of educating primary care osteopathic physicians for rural communities,” Rafes is quoted as saying in the WVSOM press release. “My wife, Tommye, and I look forward to becoming active members of the Lewisburg community and are most appreciative to the Board of Governors for affording us this wonderful opportunity.”