‘Dan the man’: Winthrop students, faculty reflect on outgoing president’s legacy
Sporting his Eagles pin and a garnet and gold tie, Winthrop University President Dan Mahony often could be found in classrooms, talking with students in common areas and cheering on student-athletes.
Students and university faculty say Mahony, affectionately known as ‘Dan the Man,’ valued being a part of the Winthrop community.
“His student engagement has really been impactful,” said Kinyata Adams Brown, assistant dean for diversity, engagement, and inclusive excellence. “It’s been such a thrill to see a leader at the institution who not only talks about how important students are but really demonstrates and shows that.”
Mahony, who joined Winthrop in July 2015, is resigning. He has been chosen for the presidential role at the Southern Illinois University System, The Herald reported Tuesday.
The Southern Illinois University System serves more than 28,000 students on multiple campuses throughout the state, employs more than 7,000 faculty and staff and has a budget of about $867 million, according to the system’s website.
Winthrop currently has about 5,864 students.
The Southern Illinois board of trustees will vote on Mahony’s appointment Thursday, The Herald previously reported. If approved, Mahony will start his new role in March 2020.
Mahony will lead Winthrop until March 1, 2020, according to the university. Mahony’s current contract goes through June 30, 2020, said Judy Longshaw, Winthrop spokesperson.
‘We love him’
Multiple students and faculty members say they will miss Mahony’s leadership.
“Thank you, Daniel Mahony, for inspiring the students and faculty at Winthrop University with your strong, student-centered, intelligent, compassionate, and moral leadership,” Winthrop professor Jennifer Leigh Disney wrote on her Facebook page. “I wish things could have been different, and we could have kept you here for longer, but I am absolutely thrilled for your new opportunity at Southern Illinois.”
Mahony and his wife Laura live in the Winthrop President’s House with their daughter, according to the university’s website. Their son is in college.
Winthrop senior Natalie Royaards, 21, said she often sees Mahony on campus.
“He was always around when I’ve been at (the student center) studying or around campus. I’ve always seen him out with students,” she said.
“We’re going to miss him for sure, but if it’s the best decision for him, then we support him 100 percent,” Royaards said.
Royaards, an exercise science major, also plays soccer for Winthrop. She said Mahony is a big supporter of student-athletes.
“He’s come to multiple of our games,” Royaards said. “It’s helpful to have a president that understands both the academic rigor and the athletic rigor and how to make them compatible.”
Before coming to Winthrop, Mahony was the dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services and a professor of sport management at Kent State University in Ohio, according to Winthrop. He holds a Ph. D. in sport management from Ohio State University.
Winthrop sophomore Camryn Grant-Hinton, 19, said she will miss Mahony’s support.
“I’m really upset that President Mahony is leaving,” Grant-Hinton said. “We could sit down and have lunch with him if we had anything to talk about.”
“Sometimes you don’t always know who the president is, but he’s just so open and welcoming,” she said. “He really made the community closer.”
Adams Brown, who came to Winthrop in 2011, said Mahony eats lunch with students, attends student presentations and events and is accessible for one-on-one meetings. She said his example encouraged Winthrop’s other top leaders to have a presence on campus.
“That engagement piece has trickled down to other areas of campus. I hope that is something we continue to work towards,” Adams Brown said.
Shayna Foxworth, 25, graduated from Winthrop in 2016 and is now the student and young alumni program coordinator.
Foxworth said as a student she was involved with NAACP on campus and saw Mahony at their events and meetings.
Foxworth, who served as a resident assistant on campus, said Mahony would come speak with students about the future of the university and was open to their ideas.
“He’s made so much great change on this campus for us,” she said. “I know we’re going to miss him, but I’m happy for him.”
As an employee, Foxworth works with Mahony on community and campus events such as the MLK Day of Service, homecoming and the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
“He’s been a great president to be with,” she said. “His service to this community, this campus, we all appreciate it. We love him.”
Supporting diversity
One of Mahony’s goals has been to increase diversity among students, faculty and staff.
“I can tell without a doubt that I have felt supported in the work that not only I do but my other colleagues across campus and students do when it relates to diversity and inclusion,” Adams Brown said.
Under Mahony’s leadership, Adams Brown said Winthrop has expanded the campus’ diversity center. The center welcomes students to study, pray, have meetings and access resources related to diversity and inclusion.
Mahony has also helped Winthrop ensure diverse candidates are reached when it comes to recruiting faculty and staff, The Herald previously reported.
In 2019, Winthrop had 21%, up from 18% in 2018, of faculty and managerial staff who self-identify as African-American, Latin American, Native American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Asian, two or more races or international, The Herald previously reported.
Adams Brown said with Mahony as president, Winthrop has also hosted multicultural recruitment days to reach diverse students.
The university saw an increase in the percent of minority students from 40% in 2018 to 42% in 2019, The Herald previously reported. The college looks at the percent of students who self-identify as African-American, Latin American, Native American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Asian, two or more races or international.
“I am forever grateful,” Adams Brown said. “I think he’s propelled the work further because of his support of it.”
