Hundreds reflect on YSU President Cynthia Anderson's tenure at dinner tonight

BOARDMAN

Supporters describe outgoing Youngstown State University President Cynthia E. Anderson as a visionary leader who always put students’ best interests first.

Anderson says she doesn’t regret a minute of her career.

“No one in this world had a more fulfilling and wonderful career than I did,” she told the hundreds of people who turned out Thursday evening for the Salute to President Cynthia Anderson at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center.

Anderson, YSU’s seventh president, retires June 30 from the presidency, an office she’s occupied since 2010. She began her YSU career as an instructor in 1979, moving to assistant professor in 1985, associate professor in 1990, assistant provost in 1993 and vice president for student affairs in 1995.

“I leave Youngstown State having had this absolutely blessed career,” she told the crowd.

Dr. Sudershan Garg, chairman of the YSU trustees, said a lot of people underestimated Anderson upon her appointment to the presidency. But she proved herself in her performance, addressing fiscal challenges with reduced state funding and reducing the university’s budget.

“Her mantra was always, ‘Students are No. 1,’ ” he said. “Their success she cherished from the bottom of her heart.”

Though her tenure as president was short, she achieved a lot in that short time, Dr. Garg said.

Read more observations from her peers in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.