Winthrop names new president

The selection of Dan Mahony as Winthrop University’s 11th president could be called a reset of a historic moment. We hope it will mark the genuine beginning of a new era for the university after the 24-year tenure of former President Anthony DiGiorgio.

The choice of Mahony was announced Friday afternoon. He was one of three finalists for the post and one of 84 applicants reviewed by a national search committee.

Mahony is dean of Kent State University’s college of education, health and human services. He is a professor of sport management, with a background in intercollegiate athletics. He also has conducted academic research on effective university administration.

Mahony had visited Winthrop in late February to talk with trustees and meet with a variety of groups on campus. He apparently made a good impression during those sessions.

We can see why Mahony was well received on that initial visit. He told listeners during a round of interviews that he is a collaborative leader who puts a premium on remaining calm during times of crisis.

He appears to be familiar with the fine art of dealing with the state lawmakers who control the university’s purse strings. He said he meets about three times a month with Ohio lawmakers in the state’s capitol.

In response to a question about his dedication to openness and transparency regarding the operation of the president’s office, Mahony said that he is known as a transparent leader. He believes it is important to share financial information with colleagues and solicit help from others on campus to solve problems.

Winthrop will face significant challenges in the months ahead, including the need to significantly grow enrollment, increase alumni giving and convince the Legislature to increase funding for higher education. Mahony, who has spent his entire career at public universities, said that one of his chief duties will be to communicate what makes Winthrop special, which is important both to recruiting students and helping lawmakers understand the university’s vital impact in the state.

Mahony’s experience as a professor of sport management and his background in intercollegiate athletics also should serve him well in grappling with the perennial question of whether Winthrop should adopt a football program.

All in all, we agree that Mahony is an impressive individual and, from all appearances, an excellent choice for president. He appears willing and able to assume the challenges of the job, to meld quickly with the Winthrop culture and to play a role as a valued member of the greater Rock Hill community.

We refer to his selection as a reset because of the disastrous but short tenure of his predecessor, Jamie Comstock Williamson, officially the school’s 10th president. Williamson also impressed many, including trustees, at first, but soon raised questions about her leadership by granting large salary increases to some university employees without consulting the board.

She also angered trustees by maneuvering to get her husband hired for a job on campus. She also was involved in several episodes where she was accused of berating and mistreating employees. The board fired her in June.

That experience prompted a pledge by trustees to take a different approach in searching for her successor. For one thing, trustees agreed to pay more attention to the views of faculty, many of whom had expressed misgivings about Williamson.

The choice of Mahony appears to reflect the positive reception by many faculty members who met and questioned him.

Mahony will have the unenviable task of reassuring a nervous campus and community that the experience of the past won’t be repeated. That may be unfair in a sense, but it is inevitable.

At the same time, we can reassure Mahony and his family that once he has settled into the job, he will be warmly embraced and supported by a community that highly values the many contributions Winthrop makes to this city, county and state.

Welcome, Mahonys, to Winthrop and Rock Hill.

This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Winthrop names new president."