and its reputation for academic excellence and
its commitment to a values-based education.
That is what attracted me to the opportunity;
what convinced me was the confirmation of my
impressions I received when I visited campus --
quality people imbued with a deep love for this
institution who communicate their passion for
St. Bonaventure not only in word but in deed.
education in America, especially at small,
religiously affiliated privates?
-- we need to help prospective students under-
stand that our value proposition and the excel-
lence of our outcomes make their investment in
a St. Bonaventure education a good one. More
prosaically, however, is also helping them solve
the affordability puzzle. Schools like St. Bonaven-
ture have to demonstrate their value to an in-
creasingly price-sensitive student population. On
St. Bonaventure's side, in addition to the obvious
need to control expenses, is the need to build
the endowment to a level sufficient to support
student financial aid.
one of your interviews. What do you
mean by that?
But I don't. As someone once said to me, "There
is always room for quality people (quality institu-
2
Dr. Andrew Roth
terim president and will serve during the
2016-17 academic year. Former president and
CEO of Notre Dame College in suburban
Cleveland, he has more than 40 years of expe-
rience in higher education. His tenure at Mer-
cyhurst College included roles as vice president
for academic affairs, chief information officer,
vice president for enrollment, director of ad-
missions, and dean of admissions and financial
aid. For more on his background, visit
www.sbu.edu/Roth.
Bonaventure is open to change, open
to opportunity, open to the hard work
seizing those opportunities entails,
then it will prosper. Creativity and per-
sistence always trump demography!
most to be successful in your
position?
questions. So, the "tools" I will count
on are my ability to communicate,
which begins by listening, my ability to
synthesize what I have heard and my
ability to motivate. Leadership is all
about people -- I enjoy working with
people and have been very fortunate
that many quality people have enjoyed
working with me.
strategic plan just concluded.
What do you offer SBU in helping
to implement that plan?
done. Now we need to identify 2-3
"small" items that can be implemented
to sustain the positive momentum. In
addition, one of the things I have done
at every institution with which I have
been associated is implement new pro-
grams ranging from the academic to the
those that were purely organizational or
administrative. I look forward to bringing
that experience to bear in helping the
university to implement its strategic vi-
sion.
university friends interested in
supporting you during this year?
that needs to be told at every opportu-
nity. By sharing their own experiences of
the university, they not only make the
story come alive but they spread the good
news of a Bonaventure education and its
life-enhancing experience. In short, they
can be evangelists for St. Bonaventure.
leadership inspirations?
Dame, I am looking forward to learning a
new charism working with the Francis-
cans. I was educated by Jesuits, so the Je-
suits were/are an inspiration. Also, I have
a bust of George Washington in my den
-- he is one of my heroes. I'm an ama-
teur historian who loves colonial Ameri-
can history, the history of the American
Revolution and the Early Republic. Wash-
ington is a major part of that. He was a
natural leader, a visionary, a man of great
courage, a lifelong learner and a man of
great integrity.
you'd like to take a road trip
cross-country with?
everything; George Washington because
his resolute courage and ability to adapt
to changing circumstances would ensure
we'd arrive at our destination; and
Dorothy Day because she'd keep us
grounded. Also, Mel Brooks because he'd
make sure we didn't take ourselves too
seriously!