3rd provost candiate had to decide if he wanted to be cutter or grower

YOUNGSTOWN

The third of four provost finalists to visit Youngstown State University emphasized his journey to become the person he is today.

Nathan Ritchey, founding dean of the College of Science and Health Professions at Edinoboro (Pa.) University, served at YSU from 1989 to 2013. He started as an assistant professor and eventually served as chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics from 2000 to 2013.

“Youngstown State has changed me,” Ritchey said.

YSU is having four open-forum sessions this week to introduce faculty, staff, administration, students and the community to the candidates. A provost is the university’s senior academic administrator.

Ritchey said colleges and universities cannot cut their way to financial security. He talked about his experience at Edinboro where he was expected to cut $2 million from his college’s budget as part of an attempt to reduce the university’s budget deficit.

Instead of laying off nearly 21 faculty members, Ritchey said he went with the alternative of increasing student enrollment by adjusting program requirements. Ritchey said enrollment at his college increased by 200 students and that saved the college more than $2.8 million.

During that time, Ritchey said he decided what kind of dean he wanted to be — “ a cutter or a grower.”

Read more about this latest provost candidate in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.