President's Page
Dr. Mary Cullinan
Q & A with SOU’s President Dr. Mary Cullinan
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- Q. What has been the biggest change for you in making the transition from Texas to Oregon?
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I love seeing the differences in topography. In East Texas we had trees—lots and lots of trees—but the area was relatively flat. It’s wonderful to see hills and mountains again. In our backyard in Texas we had turtles and frogs, snakes, and lizards, armadillos and possums. Here the deer roam the streets and yards. The plants and birds are very different. Both places are beautiful—I love seeing the differences.
- Q. What have you enjoyed doing since you arrived in Ashland early in August?
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I’ve been walking, trying to learn the city on foot. This is a pedestrian-friendly place, so I’ve really enjoyed heading out and learning where things are. Recently I attended a wonderful celebration dinner for Academic Latina, a program that brings Latino students from grades 7 through 9 to campus for an intensive week of learning and exploring. It was terrific meeting those kids—and the teachers, faculty, and community folks who make the program work.
- Q. What do you look forward to the most in your new position?
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I always look forward to learning—learning about people, about the institution. I’m trying to meet as many people as I can, and I’m enjoying hearing their ideas, learning about their visions for the future of SOU. I look forward to the beginning of the academic year when I can meet more faculty and students.
- Q. What do you NOT look forward to?
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Presidents of public universities nowadays face hard issues about budgets and financial support. How can we convince our states that paying for public higher education should not be solely the responsibility of the students? Higher education provides tremendous benefits to the state as a whole. I don’t look forward to difficult budget issues—but I will work hard to get SOU the funding it needs to be successful.
- Q. You mentioned that you love to read. What is your favorite type of reading?
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There’s never enough time to do all the reading I’d like. I try to stay true to my English major background—I reread some Jane Austen and Trollope this year and read a wonderful biography of Charles and Mary Lamb. I just started a biography of Mary Wollstonecraft. However, I also read books that help me think about higher education in a variety of ways. Friedman’s The World is Flat is an important book, as is Collins’ Good to Great. But when I’m really tired at the end of the day, I enjoy a good English murder mystery!
