Goals of YSU attract finalist

By Harold Gwin

The university is a great place for opportunities and challenges, Maynard said.

YOUNGSTOWN — The chairman of the Indiana State University Faculty Senate describes C. Jack Maynard as “a reasonable man with a quick mind and a disarming style.”

Should Maynard come to Youngstown State University to serve as president, the loss to Indiana State would be significant, said Steven Lamb, analytical department professor and chairman, who has spent 40 years on the Indiana campus.

Maynard, 62, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Indiana since 2004 and a professor of educational leadership, is one of four finalists for president of Youngstown State University. He will address an open public forum on the first floor of Tod Hall at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

His colleagues regard him highly.

“He’s been a great help to me,” said Daniel J. Bradley, who took over the post of president at Indiana in 2008. Maynard served as interim president for a period before Bradley was hired.

“He’s willing to make the hard decisions and justify them,” Bradley said, adding that Maynard is easy to deal with, and people trust him.

Maynard has both people and analytical skills, Bradley said, adding, “I think he would fit in very well at Youngstown State.”

“He’s very much a people person,” said Roxanne Torrence, chairman of the Support Staff Council at Indiana.

Maynard is popular on campus, and the chance that he might leave would be a major concern, she said, adding that she doesn’t want to see him go.

“He’s been very credible,” Lamb said. “He’s gone through the tests of fire.”

Indiana’s Faculty Senate offered up two votes of no confidence in the university’s previous president, and Maynard was there to handle the difficulties that presented, Lamb said, adding that he did well.

When the state cut $10 million from Indiana’s budget, Maynard made cuts that appeared fair to both faculty and administrators, Lamb said.

Maynard has the respect of the entire institution, Lamb said, noting that even the hard-nosed find him open to suggestion.

“I’m very open,” Maynard said, explaining that he believes in a team approach to administration. He said he is aware that “the buck stops here,” but finds it best to be transparent and build understanding before a decision is made.

Maynard pointed out three things that attracted him to YSU.

First, it’s a state university committed to serving the residents of the state, and its mission has been very clear.

Second, it puts students first, a fact he said he learned from talking with YSU students.

Third, it is well connected with the community and understands it is here to serve. Ohio’s Strategic Plan for Higher Education reaffirms that, he said.

YSU is a great place of opportunity, Maynard said, adding that it has always been a good university and has even better years ahead.

He’s worked in higher education in Ohio and has a daughter in Toledo.

He had an opportunity go to the University of Toledo as provost in 2007 but decided to withdraw his name.

Indiana was going through some difficult issues at the time, particularly the strain between the faculty and previous president, and Maynard said he felt it wasn’t the time for him to leave.

In retrospect, it was the correct decision, he said. Now, Indiana is in a much better place, he said. A new strategic plan has been implemented, and the university has launched a comprehensive capital campaign seeking to raise $85 million. Some $55 million has been secured thus far, he said.

Indiana has no faculty union, but Maynard has found himself spending much of his time working on labor relations, rebuilding administrative relationships with the faculty.

Challenges facing higher education in Ohio are similar to those in other states, Maynard said.

Reaffirmation of the school’s mission, doing more with fewer resources and tuition control all have to come together, he said.

As president, an individual must make sure money is being put in the right places, he said.

Increasing the graduation rate, educating a work force and working with the community leadership to ensure that the proper skill sets are being taught are all very important, Maynard said.

The launch of Eastern Gateway Community College to serve the Mahoning Valley will change the complexion of education here, he predicted.

YSU must do some strategic planning to develop its proposed centers of excellence, making sure they are well connected with the community, he said.

The university’s creation of a College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is a clear response to the need to reorganize resources to meet the needs of the state and the community, he said. And the type of work the faculty may be doing could be different as the university reallocates resources to meet YSU’s urban research mission, he said.

Maynard said he finds all of those challenges to be very attractive, adding, “I’m tickled to death to be a candidate.”

gwin@vindy.com

C. Jack Maynard is one of four finalists for president of Youngstown State University. His academic credentials:

Bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics with a minor in language arts: 1969, Marshall University.

Master’s degree in educational administration: 1972, Marshall University.

Doctorate in educational administration and higher education with a minor in mathematics education: 1976, West Virginia University.

2004-present: Provost and vice president for academic affairs, Indiana State University (Interim Appointment 2003-04). Also a professor of educational leadership.

2001-2003: Dean, School of Education, Indiana State University and professor of education.

2000-2001: Dean, School of Education and Human Services and professor of education, University of Michigan.

1999-2000: Director, Northwest Ohio Urban Partnership/University Initiative and associate professor of education, University of Toledo.

1987-1999: Associate dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions, University of Toledo (assistant dean 1985-87).

1977-1985: Acting dean, associate dean, assistant dean of the College of Education, Marshall University.

1975-77: Assistant professor of education and director of Mathematics Laboratory, Marshall University.

1973-74: Administrative assistant to the dean of the College of Education, Marshall University.

1972-73: Coordinator of Pre-Student Teaching Field Experiences, Marshall University.

1969-72: Mathematics teacher and coach, Barboursville High School, Huntington, W. Va.

Source: C. Jack Maynard