Eric W. Fulcomer, PhD, became president and CEO of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in December 2022. He served for more than six years as Rockford University’s 18th president. Prior to that he was the Vice President for Enrollment Management. Dr. Fulcomer has more than three decades of leadership experience in higher education. He served for nineteen years at Bluffton University, Ohio, in several leadership roles and left Bluffton as its Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Life.
Dr. Fulcomer received his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Toledo, his master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and his bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature, cum laude, from Eastern Michigan University.
In addition to his work in higher education, Dr. Fulcomer was active in several areas of the Rockford community. He served on several boards, including the Golden Apple Foundation, Alignment Rockford Governing Board, Rockford Leaders, and the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he served on the Executive Committee for the Associated Colleges of Illinois, the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference, UW Health Northern Illinois (Swedish American Health Systems), Rockford Christian Schools, the Kobe College Corporation – Japan Education Exchange, and was a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Presidents Council.
Along with Dr. Fulcomer’s extensive background in higher education, he also served for eleven years as an elected official in Bluffton, Ohio, holding the positions of Village Councilmember, Village Council President, and Mayor. His community involvement in Ohio also included president of the Bluffton-Pandora Rotary Club and vice president of the Bluffton Lions Club Foundation.