President Krendl announces plans to retire

Dr. Kathy A. Krendl has announced her plans to retire as President of Otterbein University. T&C Media sat down with her to learn more about her decision, what this change means for the university and her experience at Otterbein.

“I think about what this school has done for me,” said Krendl. “I never felt like I could talk about my own moral compass, at least in a public setting. Otterbein has helped me...take a stance.”

For the past nine years, President Krendl has been serving Otterbein as the leader of the university, tearing down old barriers from the past and reviving the university’s stance on topics such as diversity and inclusion.

“We are more than just one of the 53 private, liberal arts schools,” said Krendl. “We’ve been unique since the day we opened in 1847 and we aren’t going to apologize for it.” 

Some of her accomplishments include the creation of the STEM building and program, the “Where We STAND Matters” campaign and gender inclusive housing for students.

“She has a vision for Otterbein,” said Kristi North, administrative assistant of Academic Affairs. “She wants to keep Otterbein moving forward in progress.” 

President Krendl has been serving in higher education since 1983. She was previously a professor and dean at Indiana University and later became the dean of Howard Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University 

Krendl said what brought her to the small liberal arts school in Westerville, Ohio was seeing a student she knew completely transform after attending Otterbein. 

“I’d never heard of Otterbein before that,” said Krendl. “But I tucked the school into the back of my mind that day.” 

Student and faculty alike are grateful she decided to keep Otterbein in mind so many years ago. 

“I think the way that she has responded to adversity over the last year has been really inspiring.” says Jeremy Paul, president of Otterbein University Student Government (OUSG). 

Paul said that one of Krendl’s most commendable trait is her ability to communicate and voice student concerns. Last year she worked with OUSG to create a petition for Otterbein to be a safe sanctuary campus as a result of President Trump’s immigration policy in January.

“The hope is that we find somebody just as receptive as President Krendl,” said Paul.

As for her post-retirement plans, Krendl said she is looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren and making her new house a home.

But that doesn’t mean she is retiring her fighting spirit and moral compass.

“I’m not retiring in the sense that I am giving up who I am or my purpose, it is just finding out what that new purpose will be. I am figuring out what the greater good is.”