Daily Record February 14, 2011 Glover named Edward Waters College president by Karen Brune Mathis Former Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover is scheduled to be formally presented at 11 a.m. today as the new president of Edward Waters College. Glover is expected to deliver a message to the faculty and staff in the college's Milne Auditorium along Kings Road. "I will expend every ounce of energy in my body to be the best president of Edward Waters College," Glover said Sunday afternoon. He said he was honored to be named the 29th president of the college. Glover, a 1966 Edward Waters graduate, was named Saturday to lead the historically black college, where he has served as interim president since May. He accepted the appointment at a meeting of the board of trustees. A news release from the college stated that since Glover arrived there, "he balanced the budget, improved organizational culture, solidified and implemented programs that will help in boosting retention and graduation rates and helped to inspire the recruitment of one of the largest freshmen classes in school history." Glover said about 330 students enrolled in the freshman class. The institution had about 830 students when he took over. The news release said that Glover and his administrative team also ensured that all financial stability standards set by the U.S. Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools were met. "The board is enthusiastic about Mr. Nathaniel Glover being our 29th president," said Bishop McKinley Young, chair of the board of trustees, in a statement. "We can now move forward in advancing the strategic goals of the college and operate with complete organizational stability," he said. Edward Waters is the oldest private institution of higher education in Florida. It was founded in 1866 to educate emancipated slaves. But through the years, the college struggled with leadership, funding and educational issues. The graduation rate was 12 percent when Glover took over. Glover, a football standout at the college, graduated with a bachelor's degree in social science and joined the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. He was elected sheriff in 1995, serving two terms and then ran unsuccessfully for mayor. Glover was the first black sheriff in Jacksonville in more than 100 years. Glover, who graduated from the University of North Florida in 1987 with a master of education degree, had been special adviser to UNF President John Delaney prior to his service at Edward Waters College. Delaney said Sunday that Glover "is just what the doctor ordered." "He brings connections to the community that a new president would take years to build," said Delaney. "He is already trusted by the business community, so I expect fundraising to be easier than a new president would face," he said. Edward Waters College's former president, Claudette Williams, left for another position. Glover accomplished some immediate changes when he was named interim president. In July, African Methodist Episcopal Church officials announced they were investing $2 million in EWC, saying the money would eliminate the college's $1.8 million deficit and help with operating expenses. "It put us on a sound financial basis and we are in a position where we can go out and do those things necessary to grow to the prominence I think we are able to accomplish," said Glover. As a Daily Record 2011 Newsmaker, Glover said his challenge was: "Notwithstanding some perceptions in the community about Edward Waters College, it is my objective for the year to get the community to a point where it recognizes Edward Waters as the crown jewel in the community that it is," he said. Glover said the existence of four institutions of higher learning - UNF, Jacksonville University, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Edward Waters College - is good for the area. The choices allow "our youth to be able to access any experience of higher learning that they so desire," he said. In a May interview with the Daily Record editorial staff, Glover was asked about the value of his experience as sheriff. He said he managed a $230 million budget and an agency with almost 3,000 people. "I had to win public support and make sure the employees were working at a high level of efficiency. At one time I achieved a 91 percent approval rating with the citizens of Jacksonville, while reducing the crime rate," said Glover. "All of that can be summed up as leadership and that's what I bring. There's no way I would try to sit down and figure out a curriculum for the department of education, nor would I be interested in doing that. I believe I can bring inspired leadership and the kind of leadership that will encourage people to be the best that they can be," he said. "I also hope I have a connection to this community. I think I'm one of those individuals who has earned some respect in the community. With that, I'd like to go out in the community and be a goodwill ambassador for Edward Waters College. Those are the things I'm excited about and those are the things I bring to the school," he said. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street 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.