Over a weekend in late October, Wright State University’s board of trustees voted to appoint Provost Susan Edwards as president—without her knowledge. Edwards was originally going to serve on an interim basis, but she will now replace outgoing president Cheryl Schrader, who announced her plans to step down earlier in October.
As the Ohio school’s eighth president, Edwards will focus on recruitment and retention since Wright State’s enrollment reached a more than 37-year low this fall, an 11.7% decline from fall 2018.
To help the institution stabilize financially, Wright State leaders have doubled cash reserves over the past two years, from about $31 million in 2017 to more than $60 million this fall.
Read: People Watch: Blattner to rejoin Fontbonne U administration
Other people news:
- Vice President Darryl Jones of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, began serving as associate vice president for academic affairs of Hudson County Community College (N.J.) in November.
- Provost Adam C. Hutchison of Texas State Technical College will begin leading Virginia Highlands Community College at the start of 2020.
- Wesley R. Fugate, vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Randolph College (Va.), will become the 20th president of Wilson College (Pa.) in January.
