Davenport University President Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D., will be talking and laughing with award-winning actor and comedian Martin Short during the university’s annual Excellence in Business Gala to be held May 2, 2026, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. 

Short, who has won Emmys for his television work and won a Tony for his stage work, has played many memorable roles throughout his distinguished career in TV, film and theater. His work on Canada’s SCTV Comedy Network brought him to “Saturday Night Live’ more than 30 years ago where he became a fan-favorite. He’s also hosted SNL five times and was inducted into the “five-timers club” in 2024. Film goers first saw him in “Three Amigos.” He was in other films including “Three Fugitives,” “Clifford,” and he played the flamboyant and eccentric Franck Eggelhoffer in “Father of the Bride” and “Father of the Bride II,” alongside Steve Martin, who played the father. Short has toured with Martin at major venues in the U.S. and Australia, and they currently star with Selena Gomez in Hulu’s popular comedy series, “Only Murders in the Building.” 

“We are going to have a great time at this year’s Excellence in Business Gala,” said Pappas. “I’m looking forward to a wonderful conversation with Martin Short, who is such a talented actor and comedian. He brings wonderful energy to his work, and I know he will bring it to Grand Rapids as well. I’m also looking forward to delving into some personal topics he shared in his memoir. He’s an example of resilience and gratitude. We’ll have laughs and also a thought-provoking conversation.” 

Short published his autobiography, “I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend,” in 2014. 

This Excellence in Business Gala will be Pappas’ last as president of Davenport. He announced that he will retire in June of this year. In honor of his 50-year career in higher education and his 17-year tenure at Davenport, Pappas will receive the Peter C. Cook Excellence in Business Award. Cook was a Davenport alumnus, successful leader of Mazda Great Lakes and a generous philanthropist. 

Pappas has spent nearly 40 years as a college and university president, leading institutions such as National Louis University, Lake Michigan College and Harford Community College. Since becoming president of Davenport University in 2009, he has guided the institution through a period of extraordinary transformation. Under his leadership, Davenport has implemented quality measures that elevated academic programming, expanded student support services and enhanced the university’s long-term financial strength. Most notably, the university achieved a 200% increase in the graduation rate during his tenure as president.  

He has championed inclusive pathways for non-traditional and underrepresented learners. Davenport serves a high-percentage of working adults, veterans, and first-generation and transfer students. Davenport became the first university to receive the Michigan Performance Excellence Award, based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. In 2021, the university was awarded the American Council on Education/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation, and Pappas was recently honored with the Presidential Legacy Award from the Urban League of West Michigan in recognition of his commitment to improving lives in the community.  

Pappas has served on a variety of boards, including the American Council on Education, the United Way, the Michigan Education Trust and The Right Place.

Davenport’s annual gala, which always features a nationally known speaker and a prominent business leader, is critical to providing scholarships so more students can attend the university. More information on sponsorships and tickets for Davenport’s Excellence in Business Gala can be found here.