SENECA FALLS, N.Y. — Dr. Frank Nicchi, president of the New York Chiropractic College (NYCC), plans to retire on Aug. 31, 2017.
Nicchi’s retirement in less than a year will conclude his 36 years of service to the school, including the last 17 as president, NYCC said in a news release.
Under Nicchi’s leadership, NYCC evolved from a “single-purpose” college preparing doctors of chiropractic to become an institution for the education and training of “natural” health-care professionals and academicians, the school said.
During Nicchi’s time as president, NYCC added master’s-degree programs in acupuncture, acupuncture and oriental medicine, applied clinical nutrition, human anatomy and physiology instruction, clinical anatomy, and diagnostic imaging, along with a bachelor’s degree in professional studies in life sciences.
Nicchi has been a member of the faculty of New York Chiropractic College since 1980, instructing clinical diagnosis and chiropractic technique and serving as a clinician at the college’s outpatient health center in Levittown on Long Island.
He continues his work as a professor in the department of chiropractic clinical sciences, NYCC said.
Prior to his appointment as president, Nicchi served as dean of continuing education and was a “prominent” postgraduate seminar and conference lecturer.
Additionally, he maintained a chiropractic private practice for about 20 years.
Nicchi will be “greatly missed,” Dr. Thomas De Vita, chair of the NYCC board of trustees, said in the news release.
“But we know that he has left the college perfectly positioned for the transition and for an extraordinary future. The board has been impressed with his vision, and credits his outstanding leadership for the college’s achievement in being named a Great College to Work for by The Chronicle of Higher Education, not once, but for eight consecutive years. In seven of those years, the college was also selected for the prestigious honor roll,” said De Vita.
Nicchi “expressed particular satisfaction” in NYCC expanding academic offerings and providing “unique, integrated” clinical opportunities for students through academic affiliations with the Veterans Administration and other health-care venues.
“As one who embraces the concept of servant leadership, it’s often my role to support the work of others, facilitating processes and providing resources. It’s essential that people have an opportunity to contribute and feel appreciated,” said Nicchi.
The board of trustees’ succession committee has been “actively involved” in the process of choosing Nicchi’s successor.
NYCC will announce the successor once the board of trustees selects and approves the candidate, the school said. It didn’t provide a timeline.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com