President

OU mourns death of former president Joseph Champagne

Champagne was president and held a faculty appointment as a professor of management at Oakland from 1981 to 1991.

President Champagne portrait during his presidency at Oakland University.

President Champagne at Meadow Brook Hall during his presidency.

President Champagne during construction of the Oakland University Technology Park.

oakland university president death joseph champagne

icon of a calendarDecember 13, 2018

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OU mourns passing of third president Joseph E. Champagne
Joseph E. Champagne served as Oakland University's third president from 1981 to 1991.

The Oakland University community is mourning the loss of its third president, Joseph E. Champagne, who died on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the age of 80.

Champagne was president and held a faculty appointment as a professor of management at Oakland from 1981 to 1991. During his tenure, he focused considerable effort on integrating the technological revolution into the university’s liberal arts foundation and nurturing beneficial partnerships with regional business and industry, school districts and healthcare facilities.

Among his greatest accomplishments was playing a key advocacy role in the development of Oakland Technology Park, which ultimately enabled beneficial university collaborations with the Chrysler Technology Center and many other area corporations.

Regarding this expansive economic development initiative, he said, “You have to remember that the product of our university is knowledge in the form of graduating students, knowledge in the form of research, knowledge in the form of application and service. The raw material the technology park uses is knowledge. This is not a manufacturing park. This is an idea-generating park.”

Also during Champagne’s tenure, student enrollment grew and a number of new academic programs were established. After eight years of his leadership, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools described Oakland University as “ … poised to be a model university of the 21st century, combining excellent teaching, scholarly research and active public service in a dynamic and responsive university role and mission.”

“I worked for Joe Champagne for two and half years as his Interim Vice President for Economic Development working closely with the new businesses in the Oakland Technology Park,” said Frank Cardimen, now a lecturer at Oakland University in the School of Business administration. “Joe was at the initial discussions with Comerica and worked hard with Chrysler executives to get them to establish their world headquarters into this park. He fought hard to get more opportunities for our students and faculty. Today’s successful partnerships within the Park, internships, and student career opportunities for Oakland University is evidence of his vision and leadership.”

Champagne joined Oakland after serving as vice president for academic affairs at the University of Houston System, a four-campus institution that in 1981 enrolled approximately 29,000 students. Prior to becoming vice president, he had held a number of positions of increasing responsibility since joining the system in 1967.

president champagne with his wife emilie
President Champagne pictured
with wife, Emilie Lind Champagne

Champagne had also held academic positions at Purdue University and the University of South Carolina, as well as an administrative position at the Regional Education Laboratory of the Carolinas and Virginia, and consulting positions with the South Carolina Economic Opportunity Board and the Houston Vocational Guidance Service. Early in his career, he focused research and community engagement efforts on improving the lives of underprivileged people through education and job training.

After leaving Oakland University, Champagne became president and chief executive officer of Crittenton Corporation, a post he held from 1991 to 1993. He subsequently served as chancellor at the Lamar University System of Texas from 1994 to 1995, and later returned to Michigan to serve Macomb Community College as vice-president of advanced studies and dean of the University Center at Macomb Community College. Among other business and community appointments, he served on the Board of Lawrence Technology University.

A visitation with Champagne’s family and friends will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, from noon to 4 p.m. at Pixley Funeral Home, 322 W. University Dr. in Rochester. A second visitation will take place  on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. until noon at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 1400 Inglewood Ave. in Rochester. A funeral mass will commence at noon.

To view an online obituary and to share condolences, friends can visit the Legacy website. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Hope Horsepark.

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