Forum seeks to gauge what NSU community wants in a president

NORFOLK

Norfolk State University's next president should have strong academic credentials, including a Ph.D. He or she should be a former teacher who appreciates higher education, particularly that of a historically black college. Its next leader should be a rainmaker when it comes to money, and the funds need to go into faculty and promoting NSU.

That's what about 20 speakers said Thursday night during a forum to get input into what the community wants in the school's next president. The governing Board of Visitors hopes to name a successor to Carolyn Meyers by January. Meyers resigned in June and Kim Luckes, a former executive vice president at Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C., is acting president.

Feedback from the forum is crucial so that the search committee can begin to word the job postings that will be advertised beginning next month, said Stanley Green Jr., the chair of the committee. Green and others said they were disappointed that only about 50 turned out at the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center. Several of them were Board of Visitors and search committee members who were only there to listen.

Harrison Wilson, a committee member and former NSU president, twice implored the crowd to speak up, and also gave his own opinions: NSU requires a leader who will remember the school's historical mission of reaching out to poor students who need a financial and supportive hand. And it requires a candidate who comes into the job with presidential experience.

"You can't learn on the job," Wilson said to applause. "You'd better know what you're doing when you walk in the door that Monday morning."

Alumni said they want someone who will reach out to them. Several faculty members said they wanted a boss who is a collaborator with a track record in raising enrollment and fundraising.

"We need more teachers and higher paid teachers and less money going into administration," said professor Carl McGowan.

Students said they want a president who will be active with them on campus. Senior Randle Wilson - no relation to the former president - said he got accepted into several schools but chose Norfolk State. He's been disappointed and often asked himself why he has stayed. The school needs more classroom and dorm space, he said, and a leader with vision.

"When you come into this part of town, green and gold should be everywhere," Wilson said.

Denise Watson Batts, (757) 446-2504, denise.batts@pilotonline.com