Dr. Ramon S. Torrecilha President of Westfield State University reflects on his retirement

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Over the holiday break I did something I would recommend to anyone I know: I put away my smartphone for three weeks and did some deep thinking.  In that time, I thought about myself, my family, and my career. 

During this period of reflection, I decided to retire at the end of August from my position as the president of Westfield State University.  After more than 30 years in higher education—four and half of which will be at Westfield State—and with a five-year strategic plan for the university firmly in place, I feel it is time to pursue personal interests, learn new things and see more of the world.  With Randy hitting retirement age and both of us fortunate enough to be in good health, the time is right.

I am proud of all that the Westfield State community has done to advance the institution while making it more inclusive and accessible to those for whom a college education was a distant dream.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”  I, alongside faculty and staff, have nurtured that painstaking excellence at Westfield State.

I want to thank each one of you for your support, friendship and collegiality during my tenure at Westfield State.

Best,

Ramon

 

Dr. Ramon S. Torrecilha

President

Westfield State University

333 Western Avenue

Westfield, MA 01086

Tel. 413.572.5201