Recently, my husband and I attended a retirement celebration for several members of the Cheyney University community. Most of the retirees were faculty who had, during their long years of service, shared their specialized knowledge, their valuable time, and their hopes for a better future with thousands of students. Some of the faculty members who were retiring had taught students and mentored other faculty at Cheyney University for 40 years and more.

Retirees who worked tirelessly on staff have also contributed much to the University community by performing their daily tasks with professionalism and excellence in customer service. From the beginning of the retirement dinner, the mood was both celebratory and warm. It was easy to discern that the bonds that held this diverse community together were those of mutual respect, shared commitment to the University’s mission of access, opportunity, and excellence — and those of kinship and friendship.

After dinner there were congratulatory comments and well-wishes made by the Director of Human Resources, the Provost, and the Dean. While the remarks were witty, well-intended, and often humorous, the comments of the departing retirees were the most heart-filled and heartfelt. Many of the faculty, both retirees and others, approached the podium to make remarks, and during these remarks became overcome with emotion– as they recalled the camaraderie, mentoring, friendships, and challenges they faced together.

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Tony Atwater began his tenure as Norfolk State University’s fifth president on July 1. Atwater, former president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Senior Fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, was chosen as president on April 22 by the NSU Board of Visitors.

“Atwater’s impressive record as a president, senior administrator and teacher/scholar is a remarkable match of the presidential profile developed in conjunction with the larger NSU community,” said NSU Rector Edward L. Hamm, Jr. “Atwater has been charged by the NSU Board of Visitors to lead the operations, growth and visionary planning for the university, while maintaining the wonderful spirit that has always resounded at NSU.”

Upon accepting the NSU Board of Visitors’ appointment, Atwater expressed his gratitude to Rector Hamm and board members for their confidence in his future leadership and stewardship of Norfolk State University. “I pledge my best efforts to work collaboratively with all sectors of the university to advance NSU to the next level of academic excellence and national distinction,” said Atwater. “I look forward to serving the students, the faculty, staff and administrators of this excellent university.”

Atwater served as president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 2005-2010. IUP is a larger doctoral state university and is reportedly the largest university in the Pennsylvania state university system. Atwater, who guided IUP to a host of accomplishments – academically and financially – brings approximately 20 years experience as a senior administrator.

He also increased enrollment while significantly increasing fund raising and capital construction. Additionally, he diversified the student body while increasing the percentage of faculty with terminal degrees and extending its record of being nationally recognized in both US News and World Report and the Princeton Review.

In his prior assignments, he significantly increased graduation and retention rates, as well as SAT scores. Atwater’s prior comprehensive experience in fund raising, enrollment growth, academic affairs, major capital projects and student services is an enormously positive portent for the present and future of Norfolk State.

Read Full Article at http://www.nsu.edu/news/press/2011/070111.html