Leland welcomes new challenge

As of January 1, 2004, Dr. Dorothy Leland became the official president of Georgia College & State University. How has she liked her first couple of weeks? What new ideas will she bring to this university?
The last couple of weeks have left her with a pretty intense schedule, but according to Leland, things have been running fairly smoothly.
“I have been extraordinarily busy, but I have had great help and I think that things have been going quite smoothly. I have also had to go to Atlanta on a number of occasions in the last couple of weeks, but I feel like things have been going well,” said Leland.
Dr. Leland is originally from Fillmore, California, a small farming community in southern CA. Growing up, she never imagined that she would one day be the president of a university; rather, she dreamed of being a marine biologist. She went on to get her B.A. in English, an M.A. in American studies, and a Ph.D. in philosophy, all earned at Purdue University.
Her background has helped her prepare for her future job as president.
“I am a professor of philosophy, and I have a good liberal arts education. This is important because part of what a president’s job is, is to articulate the ideals of a public liberal arts education and to make sure that the public supports that mission. You need a real passion for it,” said Leland.
At Florida Atlantic University, Leland served as the university’s associate provost from 2000 to 2001, executive director of university strategic planning from 1998 to 2001 and special assistant to the provost from 1998 to 2000. From 1995 to 1998, she served as the director of Florida Atlantic’s Women’s Studies Center and executive director of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women. Leland has provided leadership for a comprehensive revision of the general education program and has chaired the university’s athletics advisory board.
Within the last week, Leland has been appointed to serve on the Georgia Chamber Board, a statewide board of business leaders that has provided some tremendous support in many areas at GC&SU.
“I think it was very important to network,” said Leland. “I got to meet the governor in the receiving line, and I hope to sometime soon get a one-on-one meeting with him. He shows strong support for education.”
Leland has also had the opportunity to meet with some of the students here at GC&SU.
“I have had the opportunity to meet some students in the past couple of weeks. I have met with the Student Government, the Ambassadors, Delta Sigma Pi, and I am beginning to try to set up lunch meetings with some students,” said Leland. “However, I would love to receive invitations from the students themselves to have lunch, or go to some of the students’ events to meet more of the students here. I am very interested in meeting more of the students one-on-one.”
Being a newly appointed president of a university that has many traditions and core values, Leland realizes the importance of just sitting back and listening to what GC&SU has to say. Many concerns have been brought to her attention, and she is listening and very attentive to all areas.
“I’ve heard some of the concerns that I anticipated hearing about, such as parking, construction or the library. I think that some of the other concerns I’ve heard have more to do with what’s our next step? What are we going to do to get even better? How are we going to become a nationally recognized, top quality university? I think that being that nationally accredited university is my underlying vision for Georgia College, simply because this is such a great institution and I believe that goal can be reached,” said Leland.
So, what how do we obtain this overall goal? How does GC&SU go from being recognized at the state level to being nationally recognized? Leland has a vision for GC&SU, and she knows that GC&SU desires that recognition, as well.
“We will get started on visioning soon. I want to have an open meeting either at the end of this semester or the beginning of the fall semester where students, faculty and members of the community can come together and decide how the visioning and planning process should happen,” said Leland. “Between now and then, though, I would like to see everyone systematically begin to brainstorm ideas, possibilities and options for GC&SU. Students will definitely be involved in this vision. I want everyone to be involved in this process.”
In the meantime, between meetings and scheduled appointments, Leland is still trying to settle into her new position and soak up the overall environment here at GC&SU.
“I am really amazed at how hospitable, courteous, and genuinely nice people are here. It’s not typical of colleges to have such great people and a community as open and warm as the people of Milledgeville are. It’s a very special thing,” said Leland.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 23 2004. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry