Editorial: Winthrop president Mahony sworn in with simple ceremony
The week-long investiture of former Winthrop President Jamie Williamson has been likened to a coronation. For her successor, Dan Mahony, Saturday’s ceremony had much more circumstance than pomp.
That’s the way Mahony wanted it. He announced in November that he had decided to forgo a traditional “stand-alone” investiture in favor of making it part of the school’s spring commencement ceremonies.
“Frankly, I would rather spend the money elsewhere and prefer to have people spend their time focused on other, more critical activities,” Mahony said at the time.
By contrast, Williamson’s installation was a lavish affair. The university and the Winthrop University Foundation, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the campus, spent tens of thousands of dollars on the week’s events. The investiture included an elaborate reception in Byrnes Auditorium with hundreds of invited guests, including scores of delegates from colleges across the nation.
But soon after the coronation came the beheading: Williamson was fired three months later by the university’s Board of Trustees.
Mahony has nothing to fear along those lines. He has been well received at Winthrop and throughout the community since taking over the reins in July.
He has taken a more modest path not only in his investiture but also in the way he has run Winthrop over the past nine months. He has kept a relatively low profile as he has become better acquainted with faculty, administrative staff, students and members of the community.
Mahony works out alongside students daily at the West Wellness Center. He also is a familiar figure walking around the campus.
Mahony announced in July that he would spend his first year in office drafting a strategic plan, but noted that he would begin immediately to address some of Winthrop’s most pressing needs. He also consulted closely with Winthrop Provost Debra Boyd, who had spent the year after Williamson’s firing as acting president.
Immediate priorities included increasing enrollment, building relationships with elected officials and community leaders, and boosting morale for faculty and staff. And he has made progress on all those fronts.
But challenges lie ahead. For one, any increases in enrollment are not likely to make up for lack of funding by the state for higher education.
Current funding for the state’s technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities is $245 million lower that it was before the 2008 recession. Lawmakers have proposed raising spending by about $170 million, that’s still $75 million less than higher ed received before the recession.
Mahony will have to find a way to sustain the quality educational experience at Winthrop without overburdening students with higher tuition and fees. That also might entail joining with other college presidents to confront state lawmakers.
We hope Mahony also will play an active role in helping to plan Knowledge Park, the development at the site of the former Rock Hill Printing & Finishing Plant known as the Bleachery, which is adjacent to Winthrop’s campus. Winthrop has a direct interest in how the property is developed, including plans to build student housing and an indoor sports center that could be used by students there.
Winthrop’s presidents traditionally have been active in the community. For example, Anthony DiGiorgio, who served as president for 25 years before retiring in 2013, helped launch the College Town project, which has sought ways to better integrate Winthrop into the community while also making Rock Hill more attractive to students.
We hope Mahony will continue that tradition.
Mahony arrived at Winthrop with the plaudits of colleagues at Kent State University in Ohio, where he had served as academic dean. It appears he is building similar close relationships here.
Congratulations to Mahony on his investiture, and good luck to him in the months ahead.
This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Editorial: Winthrop president Mahony sworn in with simple ceremony."