“An open-minded advocate for students”: The Retirement of Dr. Phillip Riordan

After more than three decades working at five institutions of higher education, and an impactful seven years as a Bluejay, Dr. Phillip Riordan, Vice President for Student Affairs, is retiring at the end of this academic year.

Running the Office of Student Affairs, Riordan is involved in just about every area of student life on campus, from housing, to athletics and other student organizations, to religious affairs.

Despite his plethora of experience in schools across the country, Riordan said Elmhurst University has been his favorite student population to work with “by far.”

Known by students, faculty and staff affectionately as “Dr. Phil,” Riordan has made quite the impact at EU in his time serving as VP, and it seems the affection he holds for everyone he’s worked with is mutual.

Vice President of Student Government Association, sophomore Avaion Viverette, fondly recalled his time working with Dr. Phil over the summer.

“He’s an open-minded advocate for students,” said Viverette. “What I most vividly remember is how much of a realist he is, yet optimistic about change.”

He went on to explain the brainstorming sessions Dr. Phil joined him and President of SGA, Davionne Jakes, in. “Rather than shooting down our ideas for being so bold and ambitious, he instead challenged us to make it a reality by questioning its likelihood of success by calling out the logistics of our plans that we had sometimes left unconsidered.”

Riordan’s diverse thinking and ability to connect to the student body has ensured that his legacy will be forever cemented here at EU.

“Working with the students at Elmhurst University has been an absolute honor,” said Riordan in an email to The Leader regarding his retirement. “I will miss the talented and motivated student body; their energy, enthusiasm, and fresh perspectives have made my experience incredibly rewarding.”