Alabama State University News December 6, 2013 ASU Community Greets Final Three Presidential Candidates The final three candidates for the position of Alabama State University's president received a warm welcome during a community meet-and-greet reception in the ballroom of the John Garrick Hardy Student Center on Thursday evening, Dec. 5. The presidential hopefuls delivered brief remarks, which included information about their background, their vision for higher education and for ASU. Highlights from the candidates' presentations are included below: Gwendolyn E. Boyd Executive assistant to the chief of staff for the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md. Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, an ASU alumna and Montgomery native, opened up her presentation with insight about who she is, what she has experienced and how ASU influenced her life. "This hallowed ground called Alabama State is a place that prepared me academically, socially, spiritually, and for everything I had to do in my life. I came here and had an opportunity to really grow and expand and to see who I wanted to be. And the advantage of being here at ASU was not only was I being prepared academically, but I got a full dose of self-esteem which allowed me to be." Boyd has more than three decades of experience in higher education administration. She is a mechanical engineer and recognized leader in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). She supports the management of the $1.2 billion APL, its more than 5,000 members and 600 programs with various government agencies, including the Navy, Air Force, Army and NASA. In addition to her diverse work in academia, Boyd has a strong record of community engagement and service. She led Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., an international service sorority with more than 200,000 members, as the 22nd national president. Boyd also holds master's degrees from Yale University and Howard University and a doctoral degree from Howard University. She said she is excited about being a finalist because she knows what ASU can do. "I'm a poster child for Alabama State University," she said. "So I bring all of my skills, I bring all of my talents, I bring my network of all of the people that I know and have worked with throughout the years, the ability to raise money, the ability to have fiscal accountability over money, the ability to have a dream and see it to execution. So I want to say to you that there is no limit to what Alabama State can do and can be. We want this place, this hallowed ground to be here for many more years to come." Samuel T. Nichols Jr. Retired Brigadier General Gen. Samuel T. Nichols Jr., who has 35 years of distinguished military and civilian leadership, describes himself a "servant" leader. He said he is humbled to be one of the finalists, and he noted that the opportunity is not about him but rather, about the students. "If you look at the legacy of Alabama State University, it's not about what's on the walls, the legacy is in this room. It's a walking legacy. Everything that you (students) do is important," Nichols said. "And what will I bring to you as a leader? I'm a servant leader. A servant leader is one that empowers people. The constituents, the students at Alabama State University, are the most important thing at this University. So it's not about me, it's about you and what you're going to do for this University and when you're going to take it to the next level. If you put your mind to it, if you're involved, then this place will grow ... I'm here to serve you; you aren't here to serve me." While serving as the Commanding General of the 290th Military Police Brigade, Nichols led more than 4,500 soldiers in the United States and abroad and was responsible for unit performance. A testament to his courageous service and proven leadership, Nichols has received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. Nichols earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Mississippi State University. He also has studied at the U.S. Air Force War College and the U.S. Army War College. "If I'm selected as your leader, I will give you everything I have," he said. "Your dreams are my dreams. It is very simple. When you are a military leader, your life doesn't belong to you, it belongs to your people. You would be the people that I would be leading and your dreams, your aspirations, and the things that you want to do in life." Quinton T. Ross Third-term Alabama Senator and director of Adult Education at H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College Quinton T. Ross, a self-described career educator, believes that the sky is the limit for ASU. "ASU creates and develops world leaders, and I consider myself one of them. So when we talk in totality about where the University is now, the fights that we're going through, I have spent my entire life fighting on the battle line for education and educating young people. From k-12 to post-secondary, I have fought for education because that's my life's work. I'm here out of commitment and love for this University. My love and passion for this institution is why I stand here today. "So I am humbled and honored to have been nominated and to share the room with the General and Dr. Boyd, because the future of Alabama State University is certainly bright. And when you look at the transformation of this campus through the wisdom of the administration, faculty and staff of the Vision 2020; I would do but one thing: put Vision 2020 and beyond, because the sky is the limit to where this University can go." Ross currently is serving his third term in the Alabama Senate, where he is vice chair of the Education Committee. He also serves on several other committees, including Veterans and Military Affairs; Commerce; Transportation and Utilities; and Tourism and Marketing. Ross is employed as the director of adult education at H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College. His responsibilities include budget preparation and management, resource allocation, professional development training and compliance oversight with the Alabama Adult Education Family Literacy assessment plan. Ross has served as an English instructor, an assistant principal and principal at various public schools in Montgomery. He received a Bachelor of Science in political science, a Master of Education in secondary English education and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership, policy and law, all from Alabama State University. All three candidates attended forums and meetings on Friday, designed to gather feedback from constituents. Candidates also conducted formal interviews with the ASU presidential search committee, which will forward names to the Board of Trustees for a final decision and vote. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.