At the end of the month, Utica University President Todd Pfannestiel will step away as president and he reflected on his time at the university with a positive mindset and heart.
He emphasized his appreciation and love for the student body at Utica University and in a recent interview with The Tangerine could not say enough about how much the students mean to him in his position.
“ What makes Utica University different and special, as trite as it sounds? It’s the students. If not for our students, I wouldn’t be here,” Pfannestiel said. “The students here are some of the hardest working and modest to a fault. And as a result, the challenge we face is that Utica University is one of the best kept secrets in this area.”
Not only did he share his appreciation of the students, but also for his team that has been working alongside him since 2023. Pfannestiel said he is not worried about the university after he leaves because he knows that the school is in great hands with Incoming President Stephanie Nesbitt and the rest of the team of faculty and staff behind her. He believes that he has helped lay the groundwork for Nesbitt to take off and be successful with implementing the reenvisioning plan created July 1, 2025.
After eight years at Utica University, five as provost and three as president, Pfannestiel considered his greatest accomplishment was overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. Like it did for everything else, the pandemic put Utica University at a staggering halt, and with no real idea of how it would impact the school long term, the administration had many obstacles to overcome, especially with reinventing and fostering a community atmosphere on campus.
“We were still figuring out what it looked like post pandemic. And so, both in those last couple of years as provost, and then as president, really helping to reestablish the university as a place for students, faculty and staff to want to be, to continue our mission as a university,” Pfannestiel said.
Pfannestiel acknowledged how his resignation may have come as a shock to some, but from the start of his presidency he had a good idea that he would serve as president for a short period of time. He explained that today most college presidents have a shorter presidency compared to what used to be. As much as he loved his job and Utica University, Pfannestiel wishes to put more time in supporting his wife’s career, just as she has supported his career for so long.
“I’m not done yet. But I also love that because of the work that I’ve done, and the challenges I’ve faced, and the challenges I’ve overcome, and much like students, the mistakes I’ve made, but managed to grow from those mistakes,” Pfannestiel said. “I’ve always been a person who will explore whatever opportunities that I may not even know about that come my way.”
As Pfannestiel leaves he leaves two messages to the university:
1) “We got this. And ‘we’ means everyone. Change is unsettling. Sometimes it’s scary. So, the advice I would give would be for my faculty to continue to be the excellent teachers that they are. For my leadership team to continue to work that plan, which they will. And for my students to go to class, read the book. Study hard. Have a lot of fun.”
2) “I’m going to miss every student at this institution when I am no longer president, but I will still be present.”
