ELCA NEWS SERVICE October 2, 2003 David Gring Announces Retirement from ELCA Roanoke College 03-178-JB* CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. David M. Gring, president of Roanoke College, Salem, Va., announced his plans to retire at the end of this academic year. Gring, who has served as president since July 1989, made the announcement Sept. 4 to faculty and staff. Roanoke College is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Gring, 58, is the ninth president of Roanoke College, an institution that is more than 160 years old. He said he is leaving the post to spend more time with his family. Prior to meeting with faculty and staff, Gring announced his plans to the college's board of trustees, the board's executive committee and the college vice presidents. John Turbyfill, board chair, Norfolk, Va., praised Gring's "energy, dedication and spirit" during his tenure at Roanoke College. "The college is in the strongest position in its history, and we are grateful to Dr. Gring for his role in that standing," Turbyfill said. Turbyfill announced he will appoint a presidential search committee soon and said he expects the committee to include trustee, faculty, alumni and student representatives. He led the search that brought Gring to Roanoke College. According to a Roanoke College news release, during Gring's tenure college enrollment reached a record this fall with more than 1,900 students and the college is in the process of creating a new strategic plan. Last fall it completed a six-year fund- raising campaign that raised more than $83 million, exceeding its goal by $18 million. The campaign brought commitments to more than double the college's endowed scholarships, to provide for a new campus center and fitness center, and to fund additional faculty positions, the release said. The college has been cited among the nation's best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and has been recognized in other college guides. The Phi Beta Kappa Society voted to establish a chapter at Roanoke College, and the college's chemistry program is nationally recognized, the news release said. Gring earned a bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., in 1967. He earned a master's degree in 1970 and a doctorate in 1971 with a concentration in zoology- genetics from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. Gring was assistant professor of biology at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa. While there he was named an Education Fellow in Academic Administration by the American Council on Education. Gring later served at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., where he was assistant dean and then associate dean. He was vice president for academic affairs and dean from 1979 to 1989. Concordia is an ELCA college. Among his honors, Gring was a Bush Summer Leadership Fellow and received the J.L.K. Preus Leadership Award presented by the former American Lutheran Church. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. Gring was the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow 2003 Award by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He has served in leadership roles in a number of community organizations. Gring and his wife, Susan, plan to remain in the Roanoke Valley. They have two grown children, Lisa Gring-Pemble, who resides in Reston, Va., and Christian, of Cleveland, Ohio. They have three grandchildren. -- -- -- *Information was provided by the Public Relations Office at Roanoke College. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news