Challenges await chief

Budgets and community economic development will be priorities of the university’s first woman president.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

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STANDING OVATION: Nearly 500 people in the Chestnut Room at YSU’s Kilcawley Center rose in a standing ovation as trustees announced the selection.

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Cynthia Anderson

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YSU President David C. Sweet 2000-2010

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Leslie H. Cochran 1992-2000

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Neil D. Humphrey 1984-1992

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John J. Coffelt 1973-1984

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Albert L. Pugsley 1966-1973

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Howard W. Jones 1931-1966

YOUNGSTOWN — Cynthia Anderson was still in shock when reached by telephone shortly after being named the seventh president of Youngstown State University.

Anderson, vice president for student affairs at YSU, was at an academic conference Wednesday when the university’s board of trustees voted unanimously to select her to succeed David C. Sweet who retires June 30 after 10 years as president. She missed the standing ovation offered by about 500 people crowded into the trustees meeting in Kilcawley Center on campus.

But her absence didn’t stop her from offering her perceptions of the challenges she will face as president.

Ohio’s plans for higher education require state universities to be a force in local and regional economic development, she said, adding that she is ready to actively pursue that plan.

YSU faculty and students can absolutely lead the way in being catalysts for economic development in Northeast Ohio, she said.

The university will have to spend some money on identifying and developing new graduate and undergraduate programs that lead to the creation of jobs, and YSU will have to serve as the “exciter” of new ideas, she said, predicting, “The community will rally around us.”

Funding, particularly state support, is a key challenge, she said, noting that the state is shifting from attendance to course completion and graduation in determining subsidy support for universities.

“We are going to have to do things differently,” she said, explaining that, as an open-access institution, YSU has a lot of students who come and go seeking specific courses but not necessarily a degree.

The university will have to find more ways to provide the support services new students need to be successful. Early course success fans the desire to continue one’s education, she said.

In terms of general finances, the university will need to set and stick with priorities. There likely won’t be enough money to fund all ideas, she said.

The state education plan designates YSU as an urban research university, and one of her first priorities will be to challenge YSU’s academic division to define what that means and how that mandate will be carried out, Anderson said.

It’s all about fit, and Anderson is “the all-around best fit for Youngstown State University at this time,” said Scott Schulick, chairman of the board of trustees, calling her one of YSU’s true success stories.

He acknowledged her popularity on campus but also said she will be held accountable, particularly in making the university “the No. 1 urban research university in Ohio and beyond.”

He ticked off a list of priorities she will face upon taking office, ranging from defining the expanded mission of the urban research designation and state funding challenges to maintaining top existing programs while creating new ones and fundraising.

Terms of Anderson’s employment as president should be negotiated next week, Schulick said. One condition of employment will be her moving into the Pollock House on Wick Avenue once it is remodeled by mid-2011. Anderson is aware of that requirement, he said.

Anderson, 59, grew up in nearby Fowler and has basically called Youngstown State University her academic home since she was a student here in the early 1970s.

She’s taught at YSU since 1979 and still manages to work in some class time around her schedule as vice president for student affairs, a job she’s had since 1995.

She views herself as “a collaborative leader” who doesn’t make decisions in a vacuum and firmly believes that students should be the university’s top priority.

She has called for the university community to make internal repairs to relationships, a specific reference to past labor disputes that pitted unionized employees against the administration.

“I thank everyone for their confidence and support throughout this process, and I look forward to their continued support as we move forward,” Anderson said in a statement released Wednesday by YSU.

gwin@vindy.com

SEE ALSO: Anderson appointment pleases leaders at YSU and in the community

Cynthia Anderson || Next YSU president

Cynthia Anderson, vice president for student affairs at Youngstown State University, has been named the next president of the university. Her credentials:

1973: Bachelor of science, business education with a minor in education, Youngstown State University.

1976: Master of science, business education with a minor in marketing and marketing education, Ohio State University.

1973-1978: Business education teacher, Westerville South High School.

1978-1979: Administrative assistant, marketing department, Ailtech, Division of the Eaton Corp.

1979-1985: Instructor of business education and technology, YSU.

1985-1990: Assistant professor of business education and technology, YSU.

1990: Doctor of educational administration, dual major in education administration (higher education) and student personnel services with a minor in business administration – marketing and management, University of Akron.

1990-1993: Associate professor of business education and technology, YSU.

1993-1995: Assistant provost for academic planning, YSU.

1994-2000: Associate professor of marketing and public relations, YSU.

1995-present: Vice president for student affairs, Youngstown State University.

2000-present: Professor of marketing and public relations, YSU.

Source: Cynthia Anderson