President's Page
Dr. Mary Cullinan at the SOU Plunkett Center
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Q & A with SOU’s President Dr. Mary Cullinan
- Q. Tell us something about yourself that will help the SOU community get to know you better.
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Like many academics who have become administrators, I like to read and write, to study and reflect, but most of my time is spent working with people and trying to solve problems. I love thinking and talking about higher education. But if you recommend a good book for me to read, I’ll be happy to add it to my list!
And now that I’m moving back to the west, I would love suggestions for day hikes and walks. A few hours on a beautiful trail does a lot to make me happy.
- Q. What are the biggest challenges facing college students today that higher education needs to address?
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Rising costs are a tremendous problem. I wish that every state, that our country as a whole, would make a wholehearted commitment to support higher education. The future success of this country depends on such a commitment.
That said, higher education needs to do a better job of defining its importance to our future. We have made the point nationwide that college degrees bring better salaries; however, that point primarily underscores the importance of a college education to an individual person.
We have not conveyed the more complicated concept that higher education creates an educated populace, people who can solve problems, think creatively, vote responsibly, communicate effectively, and participate in the global marketplace. An educated populace is vital to maintaining a civil, democratic society as well as a successful economy.
This is the argument that, I believe, underlies the responsibility for states and the federal government to support broad access to public universities. However, the importance of an educated populace to our country’s future does not yet resonate with voters. Nationwide we need to do a better job of educating this country about why public support for universities is so crucial.
- Q. What place do smaller institutions have in the higher education equation?
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The United States has always been about opportunity and choice. We’ve created the broadest array of educational choices in the world—public and private, rural and urban, small and large, research-centered and teaching-centered, broad and narrow in focus.
Large universities are like large cities: you have a wide range of options, but you can get lost in the crowds. Smaller institutions provide a more personalized experience. Faculty know students’ names. On many smaller campuses, when students miss class or appear to be in academic jeopardy, someone reaches out to them. At larger institutions, there is more of a “sink or swim” philosophy.
At smaller institutions like SOU, too, students frequently have hands-on experiences in their areas of interest right from the start. In their first or second year, they can be in a play, write for the school paper, or head up a student club. They don’t have to wait three or four years to become student leaders or get to know their professors. Many students thrive in a small-town environment, and I’m glad SOU offers that experience for students.
- Q. What messages will attract students to SOU?
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I don’t know enough yet about SOU and our prospective and current students to answer this completely right now. But I do know that we have to be what we say we are.
Phrases such as “student-centered,” “committed to student learning,” and “personalized education” are being used by schools around the country, even by huge state universities with class sizes of 300. Whatever messages we send out need to be true, not just hype. Everyone on campus needs to know our messages, believe in them, and act in accordance with them. I think students will be attracted to a campus that truly supports the learning environment and the culture that we say we have.
- Q. What can we do at SOU to retain students more effectively?
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I will know more about student retention issues, I hope, in a few months. However, I am a firm believer in academics being the glue that keeps students enrolled. I believe students come to a university such as SOU intent upon developing their skills and increasing their knowledge. The university needs to connect with every student and challenge him or her intellectually and creatively. At the same time, we need to provide support—be it mentoring, tutoring, counseling, or advising.
One goal I have is to help build a stronger sense of community on campus, to help make it a place to which students, faculty, staff, and alumni feel deeply connected. We can do this through our academic departments but also through athletics, extracurricular activities, residence hall life, and many other areas. Communities do not evolve overnight. However, when you create a true campus community, students don’t want to leave—and neither does anyone else.
- Q. What kind of leader will you strive to be as SOU president?
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I will be accessible. I would like people to feel free to talk with me, meet with me, and email me. I also want to provide as much information as I can about the campus to anyone who is interested. Communication needs to be multi-directional. That’s one reason I wanted to create this website.
As president, I hope to provide leadership that is both consultative and effective. I believe in process and dialogue —but also in moving forward. Universities are frequently accused of being slow to respond, missing the boat when opportunities and challenges appear. I hope we can meet SOU’s challenges and opportunities in a timely fashion. And meanwhile, I want to do everything I can to help ensure that our students, staff, and faculty have the environment and resources they need to be successful.
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