Along with his academic prowess, classroom success and collegiality, Richards made an impact as a creator — launching the Penn State Washington Program in 1995 and the Penn State Hollywood Program in 2015.
“I figured I’d be here a while and see where it went. Ultimately, there was never any reason to leave. The University always gave me the flexibility to be creative and entrepreneurial within the framework of higher education,” Richards said. “The Washington Program was the starting point. The University wanted to have a presence there and I had an idea about how it could work.”
What started out as an internship program became a combination of internships and on-location classes. Richards was involved with every aspect of the Washington Program — from finding housing options and classroom space to selecting students and teaching classes.
The startup program tested his communications skills and creativity. For example, when he read about the University of California acquiring a building in the nation’s capital, he figured they might need a tenant for some of that space. So, rather than Penn State investing in its own facility, Richards built a collaborative approach that served the program well for a quarter century.
The model provided proof of concept for a potential Penn State Hollywood Program, and even though Los Angeles was on the other side of the country starting that effort up was a little easier because of the lessons learns with the Washington Program 20 years earlier.
Each spring 16 students travel to Los Angeles to complete coursework and internships. The program has helped a tight-knit group of alumni in Hollywood grow closer and the opportunities have opened doors for many students to join their ranks after graduation.
Richards, who has lived in Los Angeles since the program started, has done everything from teach classes to schedule meeting space. He’s even picked out the Swedish meatballs for board meetings as part of his duties. It often demands a different skillset every day, but he has embraced the work and provided connections for alumni and opportunities for students while enhancing the reputation of the Bellisario College and the University in almost everything he’s done.
“I think I’m best at bringing a vision to fruition. There are a lot of people I’ve met in academia over the years that have all these great ideas, but nothing ever comes of it,” Richards said. “If you’re going to have great ideas, to have to be willing to put the work in to make them happen.”
He’s certainly done that, and in retirement he plans to keep working — just with a different focus.
Richards is a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and the Society of Wine Educators as a Certified Specialist of Wine. He’s written a monthly wine column for State College Magazine for nearly a decade, and he has regularly spent a good deal of time in the Napa Valley outside the academic year.
As a retiree, he can experience wine country during harvest season (September) for the first time, and he’s excited about that opportunity.
“The entertainment business interests me, and I’m in Hollywood. The wine business interests me, and I'm in California,” Richards said. “It’s an exciting time. I attended a podcasting seminar earlier this spring and I just might launch a wine and culinary podcast. We’ll see.”
Judging by his track record of making visions a reality, Richards might be on his way to again building something special.