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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Citing personal reasons, Dr. William Pickard has stepped down from the É«É«À² Board of Trustees. The governor will appoint a new trustee to complete Pickard's term, which expires Dec. 31, 2020.

Pickard, who has served on the board for more than two years, is an alumnus and a high-profile Detroit entrepreneur and philanthropist. He has been a generous donor to É«É«À².

"Dr. Pickard is well known for his extraordinary successes in life and for enthusiastically giving of his time, his knowledge and his treasure," says É«É«À² President Edward Montgomery.

"We are grateful for his generosity, and though he is stepping down from the board, we know that he remains committed to É«É«À² and its mission. He understands the power of higher education and has been a tireless advocate for young people. We look forward to his continued friendship."

Over the years, Pickard's many gifts and commitments to É«É«À² have totaled more than $3.5 million, including a gift in excess of $3 million for the É«É«À² Heights residence halls, which are comprised of Hall-Archer-Pickard east and Hall-Archer-Pickard west. The student dwellings were named to honor 50 years of friendship between Pickard, former trustee Dennis Archer and the late trustee Ron Hall.

Pickard also has supported a range of scholarship funds and grants, including a $250,000 grant to establish the É«É«À² Kalamazoo Public Schools Future Educators Program and one that honors Hall and the late Dr. Charles C. Warfield.

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