Growing up into the legacy of running a university seems a perfect fit for Bryce Jessup, President of William Jessup University in Rocklin.

His father started the university in San Jose in 1939 when Bryce was only four years old. “My dad’s philosophy was that the best way to impact the world with values that he believed in was to start a college,” says Jessup. “That’s exactly where I’m at because the multiplication of how you can build a person’s life in four years is amazing.”

Aside from managing his administrative duties and promoting the university through increased enrollment and philanthropy, Jessup strives to be involved with the students’ lives by eating in the cafeteria every day and attending many of their athletic events. He also plays ping pong regularly on the campus. In fact, Jessup jokes, “For the first time I can remember, there are a couple of students who can beat me.”

In regard to retirement, Jessup says, “I came into this through a family legacy and I’ve been carrying the presidency for 25 years. I believe it’s not what you retire from, but what you retire to, and I will still be connected with the school through continued development work and teaching. I also plan to write a book on the history of the school and connect about 1,000 senior adults as partners to the university. For fun, I play on a senior softball team and want to join the local Auburn Ping Pong Club.”

For more about Dr. Bryce Jessup, and other local happenings and information, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style – Roseville, Granite Bay, Rocklin edition. Click on the Get Your Copy link on this Web site for some of our newsstand locations; click on the Subscribe link on this Web site to become a regular subscriber, or to order a copy of this issue or one of our back issues, please email  [email protected], or call 916-988-9888.