FORT COLLINS, Colorado — For the first time in the school’s 150-year history, a woman will soon lead Colorado State University. Joyce McConnell is set to become the next President starting Monday.
She comes to Colorado from West Virginia University, taking the helm of the school as its 15th President.
“This is an extraordinary university and it’s just the greatest privilege of my life to be selected to lead this place,” said McConnell.
9NEWS met up with McConnell on her new campus, just days before she takes office.
(Editor's note: Responses have been edited for context and clarity.)
9NEWS: Do you feel like the new kid on campus?
McConnell: Yes, I do. Freshman are coming in new, so am I. I’m a freshman.
What are your plans for your first day on the job?
I’m meeting with the university’s distinguished professors. I want to get a sense for those professors who have done extraordinary work for this university and for the state and I want them to know that I care about their work. I’ve already met with critical groups of students because I really believe that the major goal and purpose of the university is to take students where they are and transform their lives.
What are the top three things on your agenda?
The first thing I want is I want every student in Colorado to have Colorado State University be their top choice. The second thing is I want to have our faculty and staff, our administrators, all aligned to make this a place that when students step on campus, they say this is where I want to be. The third, of course, I’d like to win some games.
Do you think that CSU is the number one choice right now for a lot of students across the state?
I think a lot of students do make it a first choice, but I would really, really love students to understand how extraordinary it is to be here.
What will you do to tackle the problem of college affordability?
As we try and keep tuition reasonable so more and more students can find it affordable, and we want to deliver higher quality everything all the time, the challenge comes in figuring out how to do it all. I personally take it very seriously that part of my message has to be this is affordable, students can do it, and we’re here to help them do it.
When it comes to safety on campus, sexual assault is on many people’s minds. As the first female president of the school, do you bring a different perspective in helping to keep students safe on campus?
What perspective I think is very different is that feeling of vulnerability that you may grow up with as a female in this society and understanding the impact of when there is an assault on a person’s identity and sense of safety and sense of belonging. Understanding better what kind of services will make a difference for a student in that position, maybe females are more attuned because they’ve lived that experience. There is a very important grassroots student movement saying, we want to be safe, and we’re going to be part of the team that makes this a safer community.
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