4th provost candidate native Youngstowner who loves the area

YOUNGSTOWN

Cheryl Torsney, senior vice provost at the University of Texas at El Paso, couldn’t help but smile most of the day Friday when she interviewed and spoke at Youngstown State University as the fourth and final candidate for the university’s provost position.

A provost is the senior academic administrator at a university.

“I was born and raised in Youngstown,” Torsney said. “My family is in Youngstown. So when I was nominated for the position, I thought I should apply.”

Torsney introduced herself twice Friday at open-forum sessions with faculty, staff, administration, students and community members as part of her interview for the provost position. She focused her speech at the session on her goals for YSU.

Torsney summed up her aspirations in an acronym: PENGUIN: Promoting the university,Engaging in stakeholders, Networking with regional players for the university, Generating research funding for the university and enrollment, Understanding students’ needs, Innovation in ideas for the school and Need for excellence at the university.

Her current job at the University of Texas at El Paso has been a good fit for her, she said, as she loves the students and the Texas weather.

“I’m not looking for another job — I was only nominated for this position at [YSU],” she said.

If hired, she said, because of her love for the area, “I’d move back and would not be moving,” she said.

Read more about this candidate in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.