I write this letter introducing the new edition of YVC Voice with a heart full of gratitude. In January it was a great honor for the college’s Board of Trustees to select me as only the 17th president in our college’s distinguished history. For nearly a century, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has helped create opportunity for the people of our region and our institution takes that responsibility seriously.
In carrying out work on behalf of YVC I feel a deep commitment to servant leadership. I believe the role of a president is not to stand above the college, but to stand with it — listening first, empowering others and ensuring that every decision reflects our shared mission to put our students and the communities we serve first. Whether it’s supporting faculty innovation, removing barriers for students, or elevating the voices of staff, my focus always will be creating an environment where every student can thrive. When we lead by serving, we build a culture of trust, collaboration, and purpose that strengthens our entire college community.
I believe that spirit of servant leadership can be seen in many of the stories you’ll find in the winter edition of YVC Voice magazine. In a feature story about our criminal justice program’s work to create more co-operative education experiences for students, you’ll hear how one of our alumni and our faculty worked together to create one such co-op that will strengthen the quality of individuals in criminal justice-related careers. We also highlight an alumnus who’s partnered with current students to create a Billiards Club that is fostering student-community connections. You can also read about veterinary technology students who are volunteering their skills to support local pet owners and licensed breeders and about students fostering community for YVC writers through the creation of a new literary journal.
I encourage you to read these stories and much more in our Winter 2026 edition of YVC Voice. I think that you’ll come away as inspired as I am by the many servant leaders who are YVC alumni, students, faculty and staff. Every day, these individuals are creating a world of good at our college, throughout our region and beyond.
Sincerely,
Teresa Rich, PhD
President