The president of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Robert Altenkirch, announced his retirement Monday in a memo to faculty, staff and students.

Altenkirch, 70, who is in his seventh year at the school, said in the memo he will remain in place into the 2018-2019 academic year until a successor is chosen.

Altenkirch has overseen enrollment growth, expanded academic programs and a campus renovation during his tenure at UAH.

Enrollment at UAH rose more than 19 percent during Altenkirch's time to a record 9,101 students as of the fall of 2017, according to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

Altenkirch said he has asked the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees to begin the process of searching for his replacement. That search will take place following the board's search for a new chancellor to replace the retiring Ray Hayes.

"It is an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure to serve as President of The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and I look forward to us continuing on our trajectory of progress this coming academic year," Altenkirch said in the memo.

Ron Gray of Huntsville, president pro tem of the UA System board, said that Altenkirch had exceeded expectations since he was hired away as president of New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2011.

"When Dr. Bob Altenkirch was unanimously elected President of UAH seven years ago, we knew he was a proven leader with impeccable experience who would guide UAH to new levels of greatness," Gray said in a statement. "By every measure, he has surpassed our ambitious expectations. In addition to his accomplishments on the campus, he has played an integral role in economic development and is a results-focused partner in the growth of our state and region.



"As Dr. Altenkirch announces his future retirement plans, we congratulate him on his outstanding service and extend our thanks to him and Beth for excellence at every level. We are particularly appreciative that Bob will remain as President at UAH until his successor is in place."

Trustee Finis St. John IV of Cullman helped spearhead the search that resulted in Altenkirch's hiring.

"I was privileged to chair the Search Advisory Committee in 2011 that brought Dr. Altenkirch to UAH," St. John said in a statement. "Bob's world-class experience in aerospace research, his administrative accomplishments at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and his well-earned reputation as a student-focused president were the perfect match for UAH and the North Alabama research and technology community.



"His tenure as president is producing record-setting results on all fronts, and his collaborative approach to building public-private partnerships has helped reshape the city of Huntsville and our state. It has been an honor to work with Bob and I deeply appreciate his service and his friendship."

During Altenkirch's tenure, the UAH campus has continued a transformation that has put the school on track toward eclipsing the 10,000-student mark within the next two years.

According to his UAH bio, research expenditures for fiscal year 2013 were the highest in school history. And for the most recent research and development expenditures published by the National Science Foundation in 2013, UAH ranked 14th in NASA-funded expenditures and 16th in expenditures from Department of Defense funding.

Altenkirch initiated the formation of UAH's Department of Space Science in 2013, Honors College in 2014, and College of Education in 2014.

In 2013 the Rise School of Huntsville, a non-profit pre-school for developmentally challenged and typical children was moved on campus, and in 2014 the Rise School of Huntsville became the UAH Rise School, an outreach and service unit of the College of Education.

As part of campus growth, the school is building a new 400-bed residence hall as well as the D.S. Davidson Invention to Innovation business incubator and a new sorority house -- projects expected to be completed no later than 2019.

The school has built a new administration building that consolidated student services into one facility as well as expanded Wilson Hall, home of the school's nursing college, and a new student union.

Altenkirch also brought back the UAH hockey team, which was canceled by interim president Malcolm Portera before Altenkirch was hired. And UAH added men's and women's lacrosse teams in 2016.

Altenkirch has three degrees in mechanical engineering, including a doctorate from Purdue University -- where Altenkirch also received his undergraduate degree.

Prior to his president at NJIT, Altenkirch was vice president for research and dean of the engineering college at Mississippi State University. He also worked as a department chair at the University of Kentucky and a dean at Washington State University.

Updated today, July 9, 2018, at 12:59 p.m. with new information throughout.

Updated today, July 9, 2018, at 1:05 p.m. with more biographical information.