William C. Pieczynski Named Ninth President of Nichols College
DUDLEY, Mass. – William C. Pieczynski, current interim president at Nichols College, has been named the ninth president of the nationally ranked business school. The appointment was announced by the Nichols College Board of Trustees and is effective May 1, 2024.
“We are thrilled that Bill has accepted our invitation to assume the presidency of Nichols College,” said Randall V. Becker ’83, MBA ’96, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Bill has led Nichols through a period of transition with deft skill and unquestionable success. He is a natural leader, a man of great character, and cares deeply about Nichols and its extended community. He is uniquely qualified to harness the College’s recent momentum and continue the upward trajectory that now ranks Nichols among the national leaders in salary potential and return on investment.”
President Pieczynski has a long and distinguished career at Nichols, working closely with faculty, staff and students across academic disciplines and campus-wide departments. He joined the College as director of the Nichols Fund in 2006, where he was charged with expanding the President’s Society, generating annual funds and overseeing alumni relations. President Pieczynski was named vice president for advancement in 2010 when he oversaw the successful completion of the College’s bicentennial campaign, Securing a Legacy of Leadership, which raised $66 million to support capital projects, endowment and brand-elevating curricular and co-curricular initiatives. The campaign was the largest in the College’s history, generating a record number of multimillion-dollar gifts, and far surpassed the campaign’s initial goal of $45 million.
Under President Pieczynski’s leadership, Nichols has set new standards for overall giving, President’s Society giving, giving percentage and number of donors. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in securing contributions to support new building projects. Among them are the Fels Student Center, Nichols Innovation Center and major renovations and upgrades to athletic facilities and Lombard Dining Hall. The number of endowed scholarships rose from 16 to 98. In addition, the College has received numerous major gifts for new experiential learning programs such as the Nichols Consulting Group, the student-managed Thunder Fund, the Center for Intelligent Process Automation and co-curricular initiatives such as the Susan West Engelkemeyer, Ph.D., Institute for Women’s Leadership and the Emerging Leaders Program.
“To lead Nichols College is a tremendous honor and I am excited to assume the presidency at such a pivotal time in this institution’s long and storied history,” said President Pieczynski. “We offer something special at Nichols—a highly relevant, hands-on education that prepares students for lives of meaning, purpose and success after graduation. As a member of this community for the past 18 years, I care deeply about Nichols and its people, and am confident of the role I can play in fostering a campus culture that reflects our values, takes advantage of our unique strengths and advances the College’s mission.”
President Pieczynski began his career in fundraising at his alma mater, Catawba College. He and his wife, Lana, have three sons and reside in Sturbridge, Mass.
About Nichols College
Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth – combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage – equipping students to exceed their own expectations. www.nichols.edu
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