Growth leads to changes in Waldschmidt

By Enid Spitz, Staff Writer -- spitz13@up.edu

The University of Portland is undergoing changes this year, and so are some prominent members of its staff.

A new phase of strategic planning, UP's growth, a soon-to-be-announced capital campaign, and staff's personal preference inspired changes to the job descriptions of vice presidents Denis Ransmeier, John Goldrick and Jim Ravelli.

"We're moving toward a strategy that's usual at larger schools," Ransmeier, vice president for Financial Affairs, said. "In terms of complexity, we are a big school."

The University developed noticeably in recent years, with a new bell tower and dorms constructed, the Commons remodeled and the largest incoming freshman class in history.

"UP is on a trajectory up, up, up," said John Goldrick, currently vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Life.

To keep the school running smoothly, Denis Ransmeier now focuses on planning and finances, and Jim Ravelli was recently promoted to the position of vice president of University Operations.

John Goldrick, who is transitioning toward retirement, will give up his current job to work part time as special assistant to Jim Lyons, vice president of University Relations, beginning July 1, 2011.

John Goldrick

• Title: Vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Life
• New job: Assistant to the vice president for University Relations
• New responsibilities: Recruiting international students and working with international alumni

After attending Notre Dame, working with the Peace Corps in Africa, meeting his wife in Thailand, living in Lebanon and dining with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, John Goldrick settled into his vice presidential role at UP in 1997.

"This is my favorite place of all," Goldrick said.

As vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Life, he has a long list of responsibilities, with departments including Financial Aid, Bon Appétit and Admissions reporting to him, plus UP's legal affairs to manage. Goldrick loves every bit of his job.

"There's never a dull moment," Goldrick said. "I've never not wanted to come to work in the morning."

He has been affiliated with the Holy Cross order for 42 years – an even longer relationship than his marriage - and remembers when the incoming class was only 538 freshmen.

A stroke last December and a seventieth birthday in July convinced him, though, that it is time to relinquish some of his responsibilities.

"I love UP so much," Goldrick said.

Though on the road to retirement, Goldrick plans to work with UP as long as his health holds. He is looking forward to his new, part-time job recruiting international students and working with international alumni – a job his many experiences in foreign countries make him extremely qualified to do.

Goldrick's goal is to increase cross-cultural understanding and involve international students and alumni in the UP community.

Denis Ransmeier

• Title: Vice president for Financial Affairs 
• Job responsibilities: Budgeting, financial planning and neighborhood relations

As Vice President for Financial Affairs, Denis Ransmeier oversees the University's money.

Recently, Ransmeier's job expanded to focus on long-range financial planning. Budgeting, accounting, construction goals and campus maintenance now all fall under his job description.

That means he is heading up plans for UP's new waterfront property, a former industrial site that UP purchased in 2008.

"We're working to remedy it, to clean it up, and then we can put sports fields over that," Ransmeier said.

Acknowledging the money troubles that have swept the nation, Ransmeier sees his job with Financial Affairs extending beyond the waterfront to all of campus.

"There are all these different groups around campus," he said, "but the one common thing is the finances."

So, in keeping with the goal-setting trend of strategic planning, Ransmeier is making a plan to ensure the financial security of the University.

"We're working on the master plan and how to fund it," he said.

Going into his third year of employment at UP, Ransmeier will work closely with the city and community as he manages the finances and expansion of the University.

Jim Ravelli

• Title: Vice president for University Operations 
• Job responsibilities: Physical Plant, Human Relations and Information Services

Two years ago, Jim Ravelli began working with IT services at UP, then was promoted to vice president for IT services.

On Oct. 15, his role on campus expanded even further. Ravelli's new job as vice president for University Operations includes management of Human Resources and working with Denis Ransmeier to oversee Physical Plant operations.

He is optimistic about managing resources and maintenance of the campus, as well as directing long-term plans.

"I'm very much looking forward to it," Ravelli said.

Now, 82 more people report to Ravelli, and he says his experience with them so far has been positive.

According to Ravelli, his new colleagues in maintenance at UP are underappreciated.

"If things are working well, people don't think about it," Ravelli said. "But the first thing visitors mention when they visit is how beautiful campus is."

This beauty is largely due to the maintenance staff he now oversees, Ravelli explained.

"I'm excited to take on this role," he said.

Despite the heavier workload, Ravelli is glad his expanded vice presidential responsibilities allow him to be more closely involved with this aspect of life on The Bluff.