Reflections on Leadership—and Looking to the Future

罗伯特·皮尔斯博士（罗伯特·皮尔斯博士）作为默西山大学（皇冠体育）校长漫步校园已经将近20年了，但他对这所他曾经领导过的学校的感情仍然显而易见。  

“We took a great deal of pride in what occurred while we were here,” Dr. Pearce said, returning to campus for a recent visit. “We have a great deal of gratitude in what we gained from the experience.”  

The accomplishments under Dr. Pearce’s guidance from 1999-2007 are many: Growth in enrollment, a fiscally sound financial status, the construction of Basile Hall, expanded landscaping efforts on campus, and strengthening an emphasis on the Catholic/Mercy identity of the institution.  

这些记忆依然鲜活，皮尔斯博士和他的妻子玛丽（Marie）继续对慈悲山的持续成功和可持续性感到强烈的感觉。 That’s why Dr. Pearce said he completely supports Mount Mercy’s impending strategic combination with St. Ambrose University in Davenport.  

“To me, this is a true example of leadership between two college presidents who have a sense of the future of higher education, understanding the impact on their institutions, and instead of letting current conditions take control of their future, they’re taking control in a very proactive way,” Dr. Pearce explained. “The net result clearly should be that they’re going to be successful in that enterprise and preserve two institutions that very much need to be preserved.” 

这个他们曾经称之为家的机构的持续生存能力，也是皮尔斯博士和玛丽继续以捐赠的形式向仁慈山捐款的原因。  

“We feel Mount Mercy, and other schools like Mount Mercy, not only have a special place in education, but they also have a special place in the Church, and that, more than anything else, drives us,” Dr. Pearce said.  

俄克拉荷马州伊尼德人。他从爱达荷州立大学（Idaho State University）来到Mount Mercy，在那里他担任金融服务副总裁、财务主管和教育学教授。 He earned a bachelor’s degree in business as well as a master’s degree from Phillips University in Enid, before earning a doctorate in higher education from Oklahoma State University.  

In addition to his accomplishments, Dr. Pearce said being the president of Mount Mercy presented opportunities for him to live the “college experience” that he wasn’t always able to experience himself as a working undergraduate.  

“We tried to be as active on campus as we possibly could,” he said. “We viewed my career in higher education as a life experience for our whole family, not merely a job.” 

皮尔斯博士指出，自从2006年从Mount Mercy退休以来，高等教育经历了翻天覆地的变化，但他希望年轻人能继续看到大学经历对个人和职业发展的价值。 

皮尔斯曾在爱达荷州立大学（Idaho State）待过一段时间，现在已经退休，住在爱达荷州的波卡特洛（Pocatello）。他和玛丽育有5个孩子、11个孙辈和9个曾孙。 如今，皮尔斯博士与家人共度时光，积极参加教堂活动，打高尔夫球，补上一大堆阅读材料，与朋友，尤其是前同事共度时光。 

But his days in Iowa—leading a small Catholic university in Cedar Rapids—are still not far from his mind. 

“I’m just one of many who have been in this role,” he said. “我希望我们每个人，在某种程度上，在我们来到这里的这段时间里，都带来了一些特别的东西。” 

罗伯特·w·皮尔斯和玛丽·f·皮尔斯基金会支持他们在校园事工和商业项目中的特殊优先事项。  

Whether you’re interested in leaving a legacy through a beneficiary designation, a gift from your IRA or by just creating or updating your will, we’re happy to help you find the option that best meets your needs. To 了解更多 about supporting our students through planned giving, please contact Lonna Drewelow at 319-286-4408 or ldrewelow@mtmercy.edu.