YSU Trustee believes in work for Valley

Millicent Counts is a graduate of YSU.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Youngstown woman appointed to fill a vacancy on the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees said she intends to help foster the continuation of YSU's work to improve the Mahoning Valley.
"I'm just thrilled," said Millicent S. Counts. "The university is really reaching out in a very positive way to meet the needs of the total community."
Counts is executive director of the United Methodist Community Center in Youngstown, formerly known as the Pearl Street Mission, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this fall. She has been with the center for 25 years.
She also serves on the Bishop's Initiative on Children and Poverty of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, and represented the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in developing a plan for the church's involvement in relief aid for Rwandan refugees.
10-year appointment
Gov. Bob Taft announced Counts' 10-year appointment to the YSU board Friday. She replaces Eugenia Atkinson of Youngstown, whose term expired earlier this year.
Counts said she is pleased to see the increase in the size of the YSU community and hopes to watch numbers continue to grow. She also said she is excited about plans for a new campus recreation center and new development in Smoky Hollow.
"I think it's really positive for the whole community of Youngstown, not just the university community but the entire community," she said.
Other involvement
Counts, who received her bachelor of arts degree from YSU, also serves on the boards of the Mahoning County Library, Habitat for Humanity and the South Side Community Development Corp. She is also the recipient of the Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow award.
She said it's important to continue serving at the university.
"My roots are here and I am obligated to give my best in helping to advance the Youngstown community," she said. "This is an opportunity to do it at another level."