From paratrooper to Viterbo president: Dr. Trietley on the U's community ties and higher ed hurdles

Viterbo University President, Dr. Rick Trietley, joined us in studio to discuss the challenges and opportunities of running a private university, his 22 years of military service — including jumping out of airplanes — and the importance he places on building community. Trietley has served as Viterbo’s president since 2022 and has been with the university since 2017. He is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served for 22 years, including deployments to Afghanistan, and was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. That’s where we begin — talking about his experience in the military, jumping out of planes, and serving overseas. From there, we dive into the current challenges facing Viterbo and many other universities, including declining enrollment, recent layoffs, and managing a budget deficit. We also explore Viterbo’s strong reputation as a nursing school and the growing role of artificial intelligence in higher education — and whether it’s truly enhancing learning, or potentially hindering it. On the topic of community, we highlight how Viterbo is deeply integrated into La Crosse — from hosting the Boys and Girls Club at the Mathy Center, to being a leading force behind local Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, and its commitment to preserving the stories of Holocaust survivors through annual events. We also touch on whether Viterbo could play a role in a proposed partnership — still in early discussions — to build a new indoor pool in La Crosse. So far, the city and the La Crosse School District are involved in those talks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.