Dr. Wickenheiser, 19th president of St. Bonaventure, is remembered for various important advancements during his nine-year tenure.  He worked successfully to solve the grave financial problems faced by the university when he took office and he is credited with leading the university out of financial exigency.

He also began an era of new construction designed to meet important needs, including most notably new apartments for students and a new art center and theater joined by a new state-of-the-art museum. The latter two facilities gained wide acclaim for the university’s commitment to the arts and for is advancement of new programs in art, music and dance.

All schools were encouraged to gain individual accreditation, and a new school of journalism was established drawing increased recognition for its focus and its programs of study as a department. Broadcast journalism was also incorporated into the new school building upon an already highly successful emphasis on written journalism in prior years.

Dr. Wickenheiser was a driving force leading the University into the 21st century. From the outset he supported the development of Clare College, the new core curriculum introduced by the faculty in 1998.  Experts (National Endowment for Humanities) have called the curriculum "ground breaking" and referred to it as "a national model".  Dr. Wickenheiser also played a key role in revitalizing the Franciscan values of the university and expanding University Ministries.  He was also influential in helping to establish the Franciscan Center for Social Concern. 

Shortly before leaving office he secured a significant lead gift (the largest in the history of the university) from Mr. William L. Richter to construct a large center for students to recreate indoors; the leading grant to begin important renovation needs in the science center; and various other lead gifts to help define the goals of a major new capital campaign beginning in 2000.

From his early teaching days at Princeton University, Dr. Wickenheiser was a major collector of books and his Milton collection of over 6000 books by and about the great poet, scholar and philosopher John Milton is now at The Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina, where it bears the name of its collector. The collection was acquired for The Thomas Cooper Library in 2006 with leading support from William L. Richter and The William L. Richter Family Foundation.  The Robert J. Wickenheiser Milton collection is looked upon as enabling the university to become an important center for Milton studies in years to come. One of the Gold Illuminated Elephant Folio's of Terrance Lindall will be in the collection.