From San Diego to St. Martin's: A new leader for university

Heynderickx sets ambitious tone, will take top job Jan. 1

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published November 22, 2008

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LACEY – Incoming Saint Martin's University President Roy F. Heynderickx says he plans to help the small private university in Lacey gain a stronger regional and national reputation.

Changes at SMU through the years

• Summer 2004: President David Spangler, who had been the head of the college since 1984, announces his retirement effective at the end of June 2005.

• February 2005: Saint Martin's College announces it will change its name to Saint Martin's University in August to reflect the growing number of graduate degrees available at the college.

• April 2005: Douglas Astolfi, a professor of history and college administrator at St. Leo University in Florida, is picked to become president upon Spangler's retirement.

• October 2007: Astolfi announces he will step down, effective at the end of June 2008.

• May 2008: The board of trustees announces its selection of Bryan Johnston, former Oregon legislator, who is slated to take the job in July.

• June 6, 2008: Johnston, 59, dies in his sleep in Salem, Ore.

• July 2008: Spangler returns as interim president as the board of trustees searches for a new replacement.

• November 2008: Roy Heynderickx, a vice president at University of San Diego, picked to be president, and is slated to start job Jan. 1.

About Heynderickx

• Background: Incoming Saint Martin's University President Roy F. Heynderickx, 55, started his career more than 28 years ago on the financial side of the administration at University of Portland, a Catholic school in Oregon. He spent most of his career there. A year ago, he became the vice president of the University of San Diego's finance and administration division, which includes endowment investments, facilities management and the budget. The University of San Diego is a Catholic school.

• Family: Heynderickx and his wife, Kathleen, have two adult children and a third child who's in high school.

• Education: Heynderickx grew up in Oregon and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Oregon; a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Portland; and a doctorate in education administration from the University of Oregon. He also had taught accounting classes at the University of Portland.

"The direction of this institution is to grow, and if it's to become a stronger institution, that's going to take a stronger form of outreach, to students, to prospective parents," he said. "I want to move Saint Martin's to a new level."

Heynderickx, the vice president for finance and administration at the University of San Diego, was announced as the college's new president Friday morning. He will start at Saint Martin's Jan. 1, according to the university, which means he will start in the middle of the academic year.

The change comes during a year of transition in the top spot, in which one person left amid heavy criticism and the person picked to replace him died suddenly.

With the pick of Heynderickx "the board has renewed vigor and positive excitement about the institution," board of trustees chairman Ken Parsons said. "It's exciting finding this candidate who seems to be accepted by all members of the community and fits all our requirements."

Some others expressed similar hope.

"Just meeting a new president and seeing what his abilities and skills can do for Saint Martin's and in what direction — it's very exciting to move forward," said Silva Goetz, a graduate student in counseling psychology.

"I'm truly glad that we've got some of this behind us," said Les Bailey, an English professor and an academic dean. "I trust he'll be here for a long time."

Turbulent year

The last year at the helm of Saint Martin's had been unpredictable and at times turbulent, even as the college showed many signs of growth.

In October 2007, former President Douglas A. Astolfi announced that he was leaving the university in June after three years there. The move came after some tenured faculty members criticized the direction in which the college was going. Astolfi returned to St. Leo University in Florida, where he had worked previously.

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