Biography of Dr. Richard B. Artman
Richard Bruce Artman began his duties as Viterbo University’s eighth president July 1, 2006.
Born the son of hardworking Catholic parents in Pittsburgh, Artman learned early in life the importance of family, the Church, and hard work. He went on to the University of Miami, Florida, where he earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, a graduate degree in college student personnel, and a doctorate in the administration of higher education.
He began his professional career at his alma mater, where he served as residence life area coordinator, assistant dean of students and international student advisor, acting dean of students, university ombudsman, and assistant to the vice president of student affairs.
In 1982, Artman accepted the position of vice president for student affairs and assistant professor of education at Nebraska Wesleyan University, a post he said exposed him to the many areas of university administration. He stayed there 12 years before being named president of Siena Heights University in 1994.
Artman comes to Viterbo from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich., where as president, he earned a strong reputation for his leadership and his fundraising abilities. During his tenure, Artman oversaw the transformation of Siena Heights from a college to a university, numerous facility upgrades, an increased sense of Catholic identity, and a complete overhaul of the school’s technology, making it the first university in Michigan to be completely wireless.
Throughout his career, he has been an active member of a number of professional and civic organizations and has served on a variety of boards, commissions, and task forces throughout his career. In January 2007, he assumed the presidency of the Council of Presidents, the governing body for the 280 college members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Having served as Viterbo’s president for the past nine months, Artman has developed a deep respect for Viterbo’s Franciscan heritage and culture.
“I am grateful for the support and confidence of the board of trustees and the corporate members,” he said. “The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have endowed the university with a tremendous heritage. I also greatly appreciate the vision and leadership of the previous presidents. Viterbo has been a labor of love for everyone who has come before me, and I respect that legacy.”
He and his wife, Joan, who works as a registered nurse, are a team in every sense of the word, and she has been invaluable to his success as university president and being a better man, he said. They have two adult children, Darin and Joy, and four grandchildren, Braxton, Alexi, Jordan, and Zachary.