John L. "Larry" Richards became the 12th president in the 122-year history of LDS Business College on Jan. 1. He succeeded Stephen K. Woodhouse, who served as president for 17 years.
Although the transition didn't take place until this week, the announcement of President Richards' appointment was made at an on-campus devotional on Dec. 9 by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and chairman of the executive committee of the Church Educational System.
"We on the Board of Trustees feel very good with this appointment," Elder Nelson said in making the announcement. "We have every confidence in (President Richards) and are pleased to present him to you as our appointment."
President Richards has been at LDS Business College since 2002. Drawing from his 24 years of experience in the banking industry that included being CEO of four different banks, he taught as a faculty member in the business department. Students voted then-Professor Richards the college's Teacher of the Year in both 2003 and 2006.
Beginning in 2006, he moved into the college's administration as Assistant to the President. The years he spent assisting President Woodhouse gave him a thorough understanding of the mission of LDS Business College, an institution located in downtown Salt Lake City that averages 1,400 students and offers a variety of skills-oriented one- and two-year degrees and certification programs.
"LDS Business College holds a distinctive role in the Church Educational System," President Richards explained. "We bless the lives of students who may lack confidence about continuing their academic pursuit, or who come from families where education has been out of reach, or who haven't considered furthering their educations.
"Our mission is unique, and so is the way we teach. We seek the students who seek what we offer."
A major goal President Richards has established for his administration is being able to parlay an influx of new two-year degrees into a steady growth in the size of the LDS Business College student body. Currently, the college offers 19 programs aimed to prepare students for careers in business, interior design and the medical field.
"We think that the near-term objectives are to consider additional two-year, skills-based programs that we can add to our curriculum that would expand our offerings so that we can eventually attract more students to the college," he said. "Our long-term objective is growth, but it is slow growth and managed growth."
Underlying every important decision President Richards makes will be a simple yet profound mantra: follow the Brethren.
"First of all, it's important that we take the lead from the Brethren who govern the school — the Board of Trustees," President Richards said. "That's very important . . . it's how we'll find the will of heaven and do our very best to achieve what heaven would have us do."
