Dr. Richard Swindle was a master administrator who engaged the hearts and minds of the Mercer University community during his nearly 30-year tenure. Here’s why he is a Mercer Legend.
Dr. Richard Swindle
Years at Mercer: 1979-1996, 2003-2015
Mercer connection: Longtime administrator
What he did: Dr. Swindle grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and earned a bachelor’s degree at Samford University, master’s degree at the University of Montevallo and Ph.D. at Emory University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for eight years and achieved the rank of captain.
Dr. Swindle was the director of admissions and associate dean of admissions for Samford University before joining Mercer in 1979 as director of admissions for the Atlanta campus. He went on to hold a variety of positions on the Macon and Atlanta campuses, including associate provost; special assistant to the president; assistant vice president for development; and associate vice president for University relations, alumni and development.
Dr. Swindle left Mercer in 1996 to become the senior vice president for institutional advancement at Franklin College in Indiana but returned in 2003 to take on the newly established position of senior vice president – Atlanta. In this role, he was the chief administrator of the Atlanta campus and the University’s regional academic centers. He also was a faculty member in the College of Education. For two years, he held the dual roles of senior vice president of the Atlanta campus and senior vice president for University advancement.
He retired from Mercer in 2015 but continued to teach some courses for the College of Education for a time. Dr. Swindle still has an office on the Atlanta campus and can often be found there working on his book about the history of the campus. In addition, he is the current president of the Board of Managers of the American Baptist Historical Society, which is housed on the Atlanta campus. He and his wife, Dorothy, live in Atlanta and have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Why he’s a legend: One of Mercer’s longest-serving administrators, Dr. Swindle served the University with devotion for nearly 30 years. He was a beloved and admired leader and a trusted and valued advisor across the Mercer community, and he has remained involved since his retirement.
“I consider Mercer my career home, and I am very grateful for the incredible experiences I have had at this remarkable institution,” Dr. Swindle said upon his retirement in 2015. “I cannot imagine being at an institution which could offer more diverse and interesting opportunities and challenges.”
A former Marine, Dr. Swindle approached each of his responsibilities and tasks with precision, always following the rules — in the best possible way — and working to do things right the first time so that the people involved would be honored. Whenever someone had a need, he was quick to find a way to help them.
Called a “master administrator” by Mercer Chancellor Dr. R. Kirby Godsey, Dr. Swindle made a profoundly positive impact on the Mercer community during his tenure. While overseeing operations of the Atlanta campus, he built and nurtured Mercer’s relationship and involvement with the Atlanta community. Through his many leadership positions, he continually worked to strengthen the University and helped it make countless strides.
Quotable: “Few individuals within the University have been more broadly involved in the administrative and educational leadership of the University than Richard Swindle. He has been an able and effective teacher, but his tenure will likely be defined by the character of his engagement with a diverse range of administrative responsibilities. Richard has been a close and insightful counselor to college and university presidents. He engaged the hearts and minds and resources of donors and potential donors, and he guided the affairs of Mercer’s Atlanta campus with consistent wisdom and good judgment. Richard Swindle should be in the ‘Hall of Fame’ of university administrators.” — Mercer Chancellor Dr. R. Kirby Godsey said on Swindle’s retirement in 2015
