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Daniel L. Ritchie, chair of the University of Denver Board of Trustees, announced at the board’s fall meeting Saturday that he was stepping down from his post as chair, a position he has served since July 1, 2005.
Previous to being chair, Ritchie served as chancellor of DU for 16 years. Robert Coombe succeeded him last year.
“As a general principle, I believe it’s best to move on once the transition period is successfully completed,” Ritchie said in a statement. “We have reached that point, so now is the right time.”
“Generations of students are indebted to Dan Ritchie for his everlasting contributions, inspirational leadership and tremendous dedication to DU,” said AUSA president Aaron Schwarzberg.
“We all owe Ritchie for making this school the special place it is today,” he said. “He is truly an inspiration.”
The board voted Joy Burns, vice chair of the board, to return as chair, as well as voted Ritchie an honorary life trustee.
“I will stay close to DU and continue to be a strong supporter – you can count on it,” Ritchie said.
Burns served as chair from 1990 to 2005.
Ritchie became involved with DU in 1983, when he became a trustee. He became DU’s 16th chancellor in 1989, where he set philanthropic records, initiated programs like the Marsico Initiative and moved DU athletics to Division I.
In June 1994, Ritchie announced a personal gift to the university of $15 million after selling some 19,600 acres of his ranch.
At the time, the gift set a philanthropy record in both Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region as the largest gift to education.
Later, he gave the university the remainder of the ranch, and its sale netted more than $50 million for various projects.
During his tenure, numerous new buildings were built: Olin Hall, Daniels College of Business, the Ritchie Center, the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Sturm College of Law, Nelson Hall, the Chambers Center for the Women’s College, the Fischer Learning Center, HRTM, University Technology Services , plus the renovation of Sturm Hall, new lacrosse and tennis facilities and three new garages.
Ritchie will become chairman and chief executive of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, one of the largest cultural complexes, in January 2007.
He also acts as president of the Temple Hoyne Bell foundation, chair of the education committee of the National Park System Advisory Board, and a member of the boards of the Daniels Fund and the Central City Opera Association.
Burns is the president of D.C. Burns Realty and Trust Co. and the owner, president and CEO of the Burnsley Hotel in downtown Denver.
She recently donated $3.5 million to create DU’s Mark Lee Levine Chair in Real Estate and Construction Management at the Daniels College of Business’ Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management.
The board of trustees appoints all senior administrators and approves tuition hikes.
