Stephen A. Gould served as the university’s president from 1998 to 2012.
PLYMOUTH – Former Lakeland University President Stephen A. Gould died in a car crash Aug. 1. He was 80 years old.
The crash occurred Friday afternoon when Stephen and his wife, Susan Gould, 82, a former Lakeland registrar, were turning from State 23 onto Pleasant View Road in the town of Plymouth and collided with a vehicle operated by a 45-year-old man from Greenbush, according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office‘s preliminary investigation.
The 45-year-old was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening but serious injuries, the sheriff’s office said.
Susan and Stephen were also transported to the hospital. Susan sustained non-life threatening but serious injuries. Stephen succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
The sheriff’s office said it’s still investigating the incident, but the Goulds’ vehicle not yielding to oncoming traffic when attempting to turn contributed to the crash.
Stephen joined Lakeland as a German instructor in 1970 and was named the associate dean of lifelong learning in 1979. He created the first program in the state for non-traditional age students, according to the university, and led the establishment of Lakeland’s Tokyo campus in the mid-1990s.
Stephen served as Lakeland’s president from 1998 to 2012. Under his leadership, the university reached record enrollment, created the BlendEd program to offer students a flexible learning program, and saw $20 million in campus construction and upgrades, like the building of the Laun Center for Business and Technology.
“President Gould was the embodiment of everything that is Lakeland,” Lakeland University President Beth Borgen said in a news release. “He cared deeply for this institution and its people and became a role model for countless others to feel the same.
“Thanks to his leadership, Lakeland made significant strides forward that have us well-positioned today for success for years to come,” she continued. “We are stunned at his sudden passing, and while he will be deeply missed, we will forever celebrate his legacy.”
The Board of Trustees granted Stephen a title of president emeritus upon his retirement in 2012. South Hall was also renamed to Stephen A. Gould Hall at homecoming in 2019.
Stephen earned his bachelor’s degree from Wabash College and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Nebraska.
Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com.