GLIAC -- Davenport University President Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D., received the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's most prestigious honor when he was presented with the Tom Donahue Service Award during the GLIAC's Spring Board of Directors' meeting in Lansing.

The Donahue Service Award winner, established in 1988, is selected by administrators from around the league. It is presented to a current or former administrator at a conference school who made significant contributions to the GLIAC, intercollegiate athletics and exemplifies the highest standard of dedication to the league and its student-athletes set by former GLIAC commissioner Tom Donahue. It was last presented in 2024 to Grand Valley State's Dr. Paul Leidig. Pappas is Davenport's first recipient of the award.

Pappas announced that he will retire at the end of the upcoming academic year, with his last day set for June 30, 2026. Pappas has served as president of Davenport for 17 years and is one of the longest-serving university presidents in Michigan.

"Dr. Pappas' receipt of the Donahue Award reflects a legacy of visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to higher education, and a lasting impact on students and institutions across Michigan," said GLIAC Commissioner Kris Dunbar. "His guidance as Davenport University successfully transitioned to the NCAA Division II level has established the blueprint for others to follow. He has served as a trusted advisor whose insights and input have been invaluable to me and the conference."

One of Pappas' most significant contributions to the GLIAC came in the area of conference expansion. He played an integral role in identifying and cultivating relationships with prospective member institutions, helping position the conference for long-term growth and stability. As a strong advocate for the GLIAC, Pappas championed the conference's values, competitive excellence, and strategic vision.

As chair of the GLIAC Board of Directors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pappas provided steady leadership, helping the conference navigate unprecedented disruption through thoughtful decision-making, empathy, transparency and flexibility.

"I am deeply honored to receive the Tom Donahue Service Award from the GLIAC," said Pappas. "This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes from colleagues and institutions that share a commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for student-athletes. I have always believed that athletics play a vital role in developing leadership, character and lifelong success. I am grateful for the leadership of our commissioner, Kris Dunbar, and for Paul Lowden, our athletic director. I want to express my appreciation to all our coaches and student-athletes and all who worked together to strengthen our conference and create a positive impact for students."

On campus, Pappas demonstrated a strong commitment to Davenport Athletics by spearheading the construction of the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex and expanding sport sponsorship offerings, creating additional opportunities for student-athletes to compete and succeed.

Pappas' leadership has driven significant growth, innovation and improvements in academic quality at Davenport. His strategic vision and commitment to student success have enhanced the university's market position and financial strength. There has been a 200% increase in graduation rates, and retention has risen from 60% to 80% during his tenure.

These accomplishments have earned Pappas and Davenport national and statewide honors. He was honored in January 2026 by the Urban League of West Michigan's Paul I. Phillips Presidential Legacy Award. The university received recognition as one of the "Best and Brightest" companies to work for in 2024 and 2025 from the National Association for Business Resources. It received two HEED Awards, a national honor from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine that recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. In 2020, Davenport won the prestigious Michigan Performance Excellence Award, which recognizes high performance based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence—the first university in Michigan to receive this honor. In 2021, the university again received national recognition with the Exemplary Innovation and Transformational Leadership Award from the American Council on Education (ACE) and Fidelity Investments.

Pappas became the fifth president of Davenport University in 2009. During his leadership, Pappas has launched four transformational five-year visions: 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030. These roadmaps have guided the university's efforts to elevate academic quality, increase the graduation rate and receive record highs in student and employee satisfaction. The university recently marked nine semesters of growth.

During Pappas' tenure, the university established the College of Urban Education, the Casa Latina online bilingual program, and the First-Generation Student Initiative—each reflecting a strong commitment to inclusion and opportunity.

Pappas oversaw initiatives to support the whole student with the university's investment in both physical and mental health initiatives. The university launched the Keith and Kathryn Klingenberg Wellness Center and introduced new degree programs in Mental Health Counseling and Psychiatric Nursing. It increased the number of bachelor degrees from 23 to 37 and the number of graduate degrees from nine to 31.

At the W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus, Davenport built the Robert W. Sneden Center and the Donald W. Maine College of Business. The university also moved the Lansing Campus to a new location and renovated the Warren Campus. All of this progress was under the leadership of Pappas.