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92_HR1014 LRB9217317RHrh 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 3 Representatives are honored to recognize notable achievements 4 in the lives of the citizens of the State of Illinois; and 5 WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Michael J. 6 Vinciguerra assumed the duties as the eighth president of the 7 University of St. Francis on June 1, 2002; and 8 WHEREAS, Mr. Vinciguerra served as acting president for 9 State University of New York at Farmingdale; he began his 10 career there in 1970 and has held the positions of professor, 11 vice president for academic affairs, and provost; he led the 12 college in its transformation from a two-year to a four-year 13 baccalaureate institution; and 14 WHEREAS, While at Farmingdale, Mr. Vinciguerra was 15 instrumental in the creation of a campus Bioscience Park in 16 collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and OSI 17 Pharmaceutical, a leading biotechnology company; a Solar 18 Energy Center in partnership with local utilities and 19 industry was also begun under his leadership; and 20 WHEREAS, Mr. Vinciguerra's experience extends to the 21 initiation of a campus-wide outcomes assessment program to 22 pursue continuous improvement in programs and services as 23 well as to extensive dealings in fiscal and enrollment 24 management; and 25 WHEREAS, Mr. Vinciguerra is a graduate of Iona College in 26 New Rochelle, New York with a degree in chemistry and holds a 27 master of science degree and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry 28 from Adelphi University; and 29 WHEREAS, The University of St. Francis serves more than 30 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students nationwide, 31 including some 1,500 at its main campus in Joliet; the -2- LRB9217317RHrh 1 remaining students, mostly health care professionals, 2 experience the University of St. Francis through off-site or 3 online classes; and 4 WHEREAS, Mr. Vinciguerra assumed the presidency from 5 James A. Doppke, who retired on May 31, 2002 after a 40-year 6 career in higher education; Mr. Doppke served for 13 years at 7 the University of St. Francis, and was appointed president in 8 1996; and 9 WHEREAS, The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate 10 founded the University of St. Francis in 1920; the 11 congregation and university recently adopted a new 12 sponsorship agreement that provides for stronger connection 13 and a renewed commitment to mission and heritage; and 14 WHEREAS, The University of St. Francis, at 500 Wilcox St. 15 in Joliet, offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study 16 in arts and sciences, education, nursing, business, computer 17 science and professional arts; nine graduate programs are 18 offered in business, education and health care; a national 19 leader in offering educational opportunities to health care 20 professionals, the university also offers a master's degree 21 in physician assistant studies in Albuquerque, New Mexico; 22 therefore, be it 23 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 24 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 25 we wish Michael J. Vinciguerra well as he assumes his duties 26 as the eighth president of the University of St. Francis; and 27 be it further 28 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 29 presented to Michael J. Vinciguerra as an expression of our 30 esteem.