Cazenovia College to search for new president as Chesbrough retires

Retirement effective Jan. 14, interim leader starts next day

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. — Cazenovia College will have new leadership as the school searches for a president in 2022.

Ron Chesbrough, who has served as college president since July 2016, plans to retire Jan. 14, the school announced Dec. 7. 

In addition, the Cazenovia College board of trustees has appointed David Bergh, Cazenovia’s current executive VP, to serve as interim president as of Jan. 15. 

The board of trustees will also begin the process for selecting a permanent president, according to Ken Gardiner, the board chairman.

Chesbrough retiring

Chesbrough’s retirement from Cazenovia comes after 35 years in higher education executive, administrative, and student-facing program capacities at a variety of educational institutions in several states. 

He came to Cazenovia from St. Charles Community College in Missouri.

Chesbrough said his appointment as president at Cazenovia College “capped” his professional career in higher education and represented a “homecoming” for the career educator, who is originally from Northern New York.

“The board of trustees greatly appreciates the opportunity we’ve had to work with Dr. Chesbrough over the past five-plus years,” said Gardiner. “He has been a productive, positive, innovative presence for the College and has led us capably and unfailingly through difficult times. His leadership through COVID has prepared us well and strengthened the College for its next chapter. While we will miss him, we wish him the best on a deserved and well-earned retirement.”

Chesbrough called his time serving the board, students, faculty, and staff of Cazenovia College “an honor and a privilege.” 

“As I have said many times, this is a special place with special people,” said Chesbrough. “I am confident in a strong future for the college. I am grateful for the support of many and particularly grateful to have someone in Dave Bergh ready and able to step into the role of interim president. Dave and I have worked together for many years; he has my complete confidence, a view that I believe is shared by many.”

During Chesbrough’s term, Cazenovia College launched the first-ever graduate program in its 197-year history — a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. In addition, Chesbrough’s efforts “managed to keep [the school’s] operations and financials steady” during two years of COVID-related challenges, including securing “significant” Federal CARES Act funds for students and the college.

The school also established the President’s Commission on Equity and Diversity during Chesbrough’s time.

About Bergh

Bergh has more than 25 years of experience in higher-education leadership and administration. 

He joined Cazenovia College in 2016 as VP for planning and institutional effectiveness and became executive VP in 2019. 

In this role, the Central New York native was responsible for revising the college’s governance structure; developing and implementing the institutional strategic plan; and for oversight for admissions, institutional research and assessment, human resources, athletics and recreation, the Equine Education Center, and Catherine Cummings Theatre operations, per the college’s news release.