2008 Woodie Awards
Minahan is the man - for now
The Interim President is no stranger to campus
George Pike and Judy McClintock
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When President Philip Conn decided to call it quits last spring, Western and state officials searched high and low for a suitable replacement.
In the end, however, the Monmouth campus already knew the man fit to do the job.
Dr. John Minahan, who served as Western's Provost from 1998 to 2004, was appointed as the Interim President last month, officially taking over Conn's late reign of power.
Minahan is expected to hold the position for one to two years-the exact length is yet to be decided.
Minahan, 62, joined Western in 1986 as the Dean of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and as a professor of philosophy. He remained LAS dean until 1998 when he was appointed to provost.
As LAS dean, Minahan played an important role in advancing the liberal arts college.
"He brought Spanish, anthropology and chemistry to the University," said current LAS dean, Bob Turner. "He was at the front of building up Western as a liberal arts and sciences college."
Minahan hopes to repeat his successful leadership history as Interim President. His past experience with the University will aid him in his quest, he said.
"I know a lot about this school," Minahan said. In addition to knowing the people, he said he knows how to get things done.
What he's aiming to achieve is an increase in enrollment and a decrease in tuition costs.
Three years ago, there were more than 5,000 students enrolled at Western, Minahan said. "During the last three years, there has been a steady decline to 4,007."
Minahan plans to improve recruiting processes, he said, to make up for the downfall.
He is also concerned with Western's cost of attendance.
"Tuition is so high," he said. "Students are working more and more, and taking out more loans."
The key to alleviating the financial strain for Western students, he said, is to increase revenue.
Increasing revenue includes a plethora of different tactics, including "asking alums to help us more," he said.