175 years and five years…defining Westfield State as the crown jewel of the university system…
It was more than 175 years ago when Horace Mann began his demonstrative campaign to improve society through the founding of public-supported institutions in the United States for the training of teachers.
Mann believed that education was the lynchpin to a civil society and through his efforts, the Massachusetts Board of Education established the first coeducational public school of higher education in the country in nearby Barre, the forerunner of Westfield State University.
Today – nearly 175 years later – we carry forth the same mission of Horace Mann, and we are all honored to be a part of that rich legacy. That first class in Barre was composed of 12 women and eight men who were there to study the rudiments of learning and successful teaching techniques and practices. Now, Westfield State University boasts an enrollment of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students with 35 majors and minors. What growth and success!
It is hard for me to believe that it has been five years since I was invested as the 19th president of Westfield State. The years have seemingly flown by.
Reflecting back, I remember some truly wonderful moments, as we overcame challenging economic times and hopefully inspired people. Some of the highlights:
Regional and national honors, including Top Tier listings in the “Best Colleges” editions of U.S. News and World Report and the Number One position, ahead of Harvard, Williams and MIT, in MassINC’s objective study of cost-versus-value.
The granting of University status by Gov. Deval Patrick in July 2010, which publicly acknowledged the breadth of our academic offerings and provided a new avenue of greater funding and prestige.
Dramatic changes on our campus, including the opening of the Banacos Academic Center, the reopening of Tim and Jeanne’s Dining Commons and the renovated Library and Wellness Center at Ely Hall, each of which meets the growing needs of our student population enhancing life at this, the most residential of the state university campuses.
The groundbreaking of University Hall, which will house 410 students when it opens in September.
Our first exploratory trip to China in 2008, which signaled our increased commitment to opening up the world to our students. Since then our International Programs Office has sponsored international learning opportunities in 23 countries for over 600 students.
A truly outstanding series of public events featuring stimulating evenings with such luminaries as Doris Kearns Goodwin, Gloria Steinem and the late Christopher Hitchens and exceptional explorations of the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections with panels of national, political and media experts.
Enhancing and expanding our ability to provide essential academic programming in the region through new undergraduate majors in Athletic Training, Ethnic and Gender Studies and Nursing; the overdue reinstatement of degrees in Chemistry and Spanish; the development and launch of our Master of Social Work graduate program; and the establishment of new academic departments for our Environmental Science, Ethnic and Gender Studies, Nursing, Sociology, Social Work and World Language Studies programs.
Our increased online learning program, which now boasts more than 300 courses yearly, including a Business Management Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program and articulation agreements with the 14 Massachusetts community colleges – the first of its kind in the Commonwealth system. It is no wonder that we were voted Number One in U.S. News and World Report’s first-ever nationwide survey of all universities and colleges with online learning (University of Phoenix was 56th).
My time here has been measured by enjoyable partnerships with our incredible faculty and staff, whose tireless work reflects the legacy of Horace Mann. It has been marked by the intense pride that I feel in the accomplishments of our students, who successfully manage their studies, social lives, athletic practices, music, theater and dance performances, civic engagement and student leadership as well as perhaps working one or two jobs.
They are such fine representatives of the best and brightest. It has also been measured by all that our community has achieved together, truly defining Westfield State as the crown jewel of the university system in the Commonwealth.
It was an honor to be selected as the last President of Westfield State College and is indeed a privilege to serve as the first President of Westfield State University. We all look forward to what the next five years will bring.
