James J. Lyphout, vice president for business operations at the University of Notre Dame, will retire from his position, effective June 30.
“The University is immensely grateful to Jim for his quarter-century of service,” said Notre Dame’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. “While we regret the departure of such a talented and devoted leader, we wish him a happy retirement and are pleased that he will always remain an irreplaceable member of the Notre Dame family.”
Elected vice president by Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees in 1999, Lyphout had served for the previous three years as associate vice president for business operations and from 1984 to 1996 as assistant vice president for business affairs.
“It has been my privilege and honor to serve for the last 27 years as a member of the University administration,” said Lyphout, Notre Dame’s longest-serving current officer. “During my tenure, I have enjoyed being an integral part of the remarkable growth in campus building space of more than 20 percent. This growth was guided by the campus master plan, crafted by a wonderful team of colleagues and designed to direct all future development of campus.
“It has been rewarding to have such a lasting and positive impact on the physical campus, particularly as I have the special connection of having two sons graduate from Notre Dame.”
Lyphout’s responsibilities have included oversight of the campus infrastructure as well as the planning and design of all construction projects, including the development of the 2002 and 2008 campus master plans. He oversees the Office of Sustainability, utilities, custodial services, landscape services, warehouse and delivery services, mail, and transportation, as well as most auxiliary campus operations, including food services, the Licensing Department, the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, ND Marketplace, St. Michael’s Laundry, Cedar Grove Cemetery, the Morris Inn, and the Conference Center at McKenna Hall.
Lyphout also manages the facilities of Notre Dame’s remote campuses, such as the Notre Dame London Centre, the Keough-Notre Dame Study Centre in Dublin, and the Hank Environmental Research Center at Land O’Lakes, Wis.
The numerous projects Lyphout has overseen during his tenure include:
- Construction of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center; Jordan Hall of Science; Harper and Raclin-Carmichael Halls (both in conjunction with Indiana University); Eck Hall of Law; McGlinn, Welsh Family, Duncan and Ryan residence halls; Stinson-Remick Hall of Engineering; Hammes-Mowbray Hall; the Guglielmino Athletics Complex; new stadia for softball, soccer, lacrosse and track and field; the Warren Golf Course; the Rolfs Sports Recreation Center; Innovation Park; the Rolfs Family All-Season Varsity Golf Facility; and Geddes Hall (the first LEED-certified building on campus)
- Ongoing renewal of Notre Dame Stadium
- The renovation of the Biolchini Hall of Law, Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center, and Stanford, Keenan and Lewis residence halls
- The closure of Juniper Road through the campus and the construction of a public road immediately to the east side of the University, resulting in a contiguous pedestrian campus
Ongoing projects for which Lyphout has responsibility include the new Compton Family Center ice arena, Carole Sandner Hall (the new home for Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives and Alliance for Catholic Education), the Stayer Center for Executive Education in the Mendoza College of Business, and the ongoing development of Eddy Street Commons, the commercial, office and residential neighborhood south of campus.
“Jim Lyphout has provided outstanding leadership to the essential services that comprise the University’s core infrastructure,” said John Affleck-Graves, executive vice president. “During his tenure, our student dining services have consistently been rated among the finest in the country, our campus planning and construction programs are held up as best examples of the application of gothic architecture in an academic environment, and we have continued to enhance the natural beauty of our campus through our tree planting and campus landscaping projects.
“Jim has been an important member of my leadership team and his wisdom, experience and dedication will be greatly missed. All of us wish him and Rose the very best in this next chapter of their life.”
A native of East Moline, Ill., Lyphout was graduated from Western Illinois University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business in 1969 and 1970, respectively. He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972 and worked at Northwestern University before coming to Notre Dame.
Lyphout serves on the board of directors of the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union and the Center for the Homeless. He also is a director of the University of Notre Dame (USA) in England. Lyphout and his wife, Rose, have two sons, Joe and J.J., both Notre Dame graduates.