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SOURCE: Winston-Salem Journal
02.12.07
The new chancellor at WSSU
The new chancellor of Winston-State University, Donald J. Reaves, will face big challenges when he takes his post in August. He recognizes those challenges and seems committed to making the school even better - which he should be able to do with the support of all involved with the school.
"I want to hear from you and learn from you, and I can only do that if we're able to communicate," he said as he was introduced to a large crowd at the school Friday.
Nobody, least of all Reaves, is downplaying the challenges. Faculty, alumni and students welcomed him at the Friday meeting, but they also asked him tough questions about his plans for WSSU. To his credit, he emphasized that he wants to build on the school's already strong foundation.
Reaves was elected chancellor Friday by the board of governors of the University of North Carolina system. He resume is impressive. He was educated at Cleveland State University and Kent State in the field of political science and public administration. He's the chief financial officer and vice president for administration at the University of Chicago, and before that was the CFO at Brown University.
He's helped lead major fundraising campaigns at both schools, and he'll certainly need those skills at WSSU, which is in the midst of its own major fundraising campaign. And Reaves, whose experience with historically black colleges and universities has been limited to board service, will have a lot to learn, even as he takes the helm of a historically black university that's respected nationwide.
Reaves, who loosened up Friday as he fielded questions from the audience, said he appreciates the role of HBCUs and the good work that's already been done at WSSU.
Harold Martin, who left the chancellor's post last year to take a top position in the UNC system, led the school as it became the fastest growing in the UNC system. He oversaw a building boom on campus, pushed for the school's move to Division I athletics and worked for the addition of graduate programs and research. Interim Chancellor Michelle Howard-Vital, who stays on the job until August, has done a solid job as well.
Reaves already has some good goals, including improving graduation and retention rates and collaborating with the faculty in "shared governance" to solve problems.
He says he also wants to work with the business community. Toward that end, he should push the school toward even greater participation in the city's growing biotech field.
The new chancellor brings with him a commitment to make a strong school even better. With the help of the WSSU community, he should succeed.
