Expectations of a president

President

In December, Youngstown State University announced that President Cynthia Anderson would retire from her post on July 1 after a three-year run.

Anderson’s retirement marks the end of 34 years of service to the YSU community.

A nationwide search for her replacement ensued, and the 17-member selection committee chose three candidates.

Randy Dunn, the president of Murray State University in Kentucky, previously held the position of state superintendent for the Illinois Department of Education.

William Decatur, now the executive vice president and CEO of the Rhode Island School of Design, once held the title of senior vice president for finance and administration at Ohio University.

The third semifinalist is James Moran, the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

The candidates will appear on Youngstown State University’s campus on Thursday, Monday and Wednesday.

YSU student Vince Butka said that, with Anderson’s retirement, YSU is losing an asset.

“I think she handled the job very effectively,” he said. “She’s someone who cares about the university and students.”

Student Aaron Ondrey said he has mixed feelings about Anderson’s term as president.

“I’m not so sure that Dr. Anderson changed very much in her time at YSU,” he said. “I’m not that involved in keeping up with what she accomplished or failed to do, but in my experience, not that much changed.”

Ondrey feels that Anderson was split in her duties as president.

“Dr. Anderson was a respectable president for the university,” he said. “I don’t think she did much right or wrong. Kind of right down the middle.”

Ondrey said he is hopeful that the new president helps out motorists in their trips to school.

“I’m hoping that the new president can at least increase the parking space for commuters at the university,” he said. “The tuition has increased almost every year I’ve been here. I’d like to at least see something like that improve. I also hope to see the number of students continue to increase.”