Inside Columbia Magazine CEO Fall 2010 : Page 52
d i A n n e l y n C H President, Stephens College presidency of Stephens College, and discovered what it was like to often end up on the “answering” end of those media conversations. “It has been very different to have such a high public profile, to be recognized everywhere I go,” she says. “But I have loved every minute of it, and I remain so glad — and so grateful — to be a part of Stephens.” The 54-year-old college president revels in the uniqueness of Stephens, the oldest women’s college west of the Mississippi. “Stephens is a very special institution, a d college that knows exactly what it is, who it serves, and how it can be the very best at what it does and is,” she says. “We don’t pretend nor aspire to be all things to all students; we are Stephens: a small, private, residential women’s college with programs of true distinction that celebrate and excel in the creative and liberal arts.” The past year has brought some early accomplishments to Lynch’s administration: a balanced budget, a strategic planning process and creation of an Office of Innovation and New Initiatives. Stephens also improved the academic profile of incoming students, reduced its discount rate significantly, and has drawn repeated positive attention in the national media. “All in all, it was a good first year,” she says. In a few months, Lynch expects to work with the Stephens community to update the college’s mission statement to include more specific language about lifelong learning, intellectual rigor, creative expression, public service and global citizenship. “The core mission of Stephens will remain the same,” she says, “but we are focused on becoming a teaching and learning institution for the 21st century; as our students’ needs and learning styles change, so, too, will Stephens change to meet them.” 52 I InsIde ColumbIa’s CEO I FALL 2010 The most recent change in course A n n e l y n C H President, Stephens College presidency n e l y n C H President, Stephens College presidency of Stephens College, and discovered what it was like to often end up on the “answering” end of those media conversations. “It has been very different to have such a high public profile, to be recognized everywhere I go,” she says. “But I have loved every minute of it, and I remain so glad — and so grateful — to be a part of Stephens.” The 54-year-old college president revels in the uniqueness of Stephens, the oldest women’s college west of the Mississippi. “Stephens is a very special institution, a d college that knows exactly what it is, who it serves, and how it can be the very best at what it does and is,” she says. “We don’t pretend nor aspire to be all things to all students; we are Stephens: a small, private, residential women’s college with programs of true distinction that celebrate and excel in the creative and liberal arts.” The past year has brought some early accomplishments to Lynch’s administration: a balanced budget, a strategic planning process and creation of an Office of Innovation and New Initiatives. Stephens also improved the academic profile of incoming students, reduced its discount rate significantly, and has drawn repeated positive attention in the national media. “All in all, it was a good first year,” she says. In a few months, Lynch expects to work with the Stephens community to update the college’s mission statement to include more specific language about lifelong learning, intellectual rigor, creative expression, public service and global citizenship. “The core mission of Stephens will remain the same,” she says, “but we are focused on becoming a teaching and learning institution for the 21st century; as our students’ needs and learning styles change, so, too, will Stephens change to meet them.” 52 I InsIde ColumbIa’s CEO I FALL 2010 The most recent change in course Founding Founding year: 1833 Total enrollment: 1,000 Average tuition cost: $25,400 (traditional residential); $355 per graduate credit hour; $295 per Graduate & Continuing Studies undergraduate credit hour Columbia employees: 200 (excluding adjunct faculty) Size of facilities: 86 acres; 34 buildings offerings is the digital filmmaking major, added about five years ago. Since then, Stephens has enhanced its equestrian majors and achieved accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, The education program’s Children’s School (preschool to fifth grade) is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. In Graduate and Continuing Studies, a relatively new master’s degree in strategic leadership has proven to be very popular. Lynch describes her leadership style as a collegial, collaborative manager and leader. “My personal style is informal and accessible, and I think sometimes my candor takes people by surprise,” she says. “But I believe in transparency, in accountability, and in communicating as much and as often as possible.” Stephens bring its unique focus to the Columbia workforce — and to the higher education marketplace, Lynch says. “It is a focus on women’s education, on women’s leadership, on women’s creative energy and talents. Stephens has been at the heart of Columbia since 1833; the city emerged and evolved around the campus over the past 177 years, and we continue to provide that creative spark, that rich tradition and that fabulous style that is uniquely Stephens.” ianne Lynch was accustomed to being on the “questioning” end of interviews — until she moved to Columbia. A journalist and an academic, she arrived in this media-saturated college town a year ago to assume the
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