SALISBURY — Brien Lewis, president of Catawba College since 2012, will step down as the school’s 23rd president at the end of the 2019-20 academic year. 

In an announcement to the campus community Monday, Lewis said he advised the board of trustees he would not seek a renewal of his contract. 

Lewis’ announcement follows recent community concern about cuts to the college’s personnel and budget that eliminated positions across many of the school’s administrative and academic departments.

A news release sent late Monday morning said that during Lewis’ tenure, the college had reduced its debt and reliance on annual unrestricted gifts, received $73 million through “The Forward Path” fundraising campaign, and $28 million through its ongoing “Mind Body Soul” campaign. The release also stated the school’s endowment had grown from from $39.5 million to $68.3 million in the past seven years.

Responding to concern over debt in June, Lewis told the Salisbury Post that personnel reductions had come from a decision to fine-tune or redirect the schools focus toward growing areas of student interest: the college’s nursing program or its upcoming online-oriented programs.

The repositioning was something seen by schools across the nation as they adapted to an ever-changing crop of incoming students, he said.

In Monday’s announcement, Lewis said he felt it was best for his family and the college to make the decision well in advance to give the board sufficient time to organize a full national search and identify a successor for the 2020-21 academic year.

“We have enjoyed our time here tremendously and feel that the college has made a lot of progress,” Lewis said. “Our children are now both in college so we would not be uprooting them, also making it a good time to consider a move. We have done much of what the board asked us to do when we came, so overall it seemed like a good time to explore other opportunities.” 

Bill Graham, chairman of Catawba’s board of trustees, said Lewis has helped strengthen Catawba in many aspects, from introducing new academic programs to spearheading two successful fundraising campaigns. He also enhanced the college’s national rankings and improved campus facilities, Graham said.

“Brien and Laura Lewis have engaged deeply with our host community, and they will be truly missed here,” Graham said. “Catawba is in a better place than when they came, well positioned for our next chapter.”

In his message to the Catawba community, Lewis offered his thanks for what he called its “warm encouragement, advice and collaboration.”

“You have made it possible for us to help move Catawba forward and to tell the college’s story,” Lewis said. “The college’s leadership team, together with outstanding and deeply committed faculty and staff, will continue to provide great progress into the future.”

Lewis said he and his wife Laura will remain fully engaged throughout the next academic year and will continue to work with “MindBodySoul: Catawba’s Campaign for Growth” as it continues towards a successful conclusion.

Graham said that the board is preparing to conduct the upcoming national search for Catawba’s 24th president.

“We will provide more information about the search in the days ahead,” Graham said. “We will also provide opportunities for the Catawba community to receive updates and provide feedback throughout the process. We are confident that Catawba’s recent progress and impressive institutional profile will attract excellent candidates.”