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Hartford Courant
Oct 5 2012
Papazian Inaugurated As SCSU's 11th President
Joe Musante, Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven
7:10 p.m. EDT, October 5, 2012
Mary A. Papazian will seek to ensure that her university is a highly
significant player in the higher education landscape of Connecticut
and the region, and will prepare students for a knowledge-based
economy in the years ahead.
"Public universities like Southern must lead the way in showing that
what we can accomplish here is vitally important to the future of our
society," Papazian said. "We must make it clear to the public, to the
business community, and to the political establishment that investing
in an institution like Southern is not only an investment in the
students who attend the university, but also by extension, it is an
investment in the whole community and - and this isn't overstating it
- in the very future of America."
Papazian outlined her vision for SCSU during her inauguration last
Friday, held at the university's Lyman Center for the Performing Arts.
She is the 11th president of the school in its storied 119-year
history.
She is the second woman to become president at Southern, following
Cheryl J. Norton, who served from 2004 to 2010. She is also the first
Armenian-American woman to lead a U.S. university, according to the
Armenian Weekly.
Lewis J. Robinson Jr., chairman of the state Board of Regents for
Higher Education, presided over the ceremony and administered the
investiture charge to Papazian. Other speakers included Lt. Gov. Nancy
Wyman, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3), New Haven Mayor John DeStefano
Jr. and Hamden Mayor Scott P. Jackson.
Papazian, 53, is an accomplished scholar, particularly with regard to
British literature. She has studied and written about John Donne, a
metaphysical English poet from the late 16th and early 17th century.
Among her other interests are Armenian history and culture. She and
her husband, Dennis Papazian, have two daughters, Ani and Marie. They
reside in Woodbridge.
"Together, we will work to ensure that Southern continues to develop
into an outstanding, comprehensive, public university of significant
value to the local community, the state that supports us, and indeed,
our nation at large," Papazian said. "This is a university where we
strive to give the students every opportunity to acquire a first-class
education with a global vision in an enlightened, compassionate,
supportive and diverse environment...Together we will work to make
Southern the most successful university in its class."
Wyman expressed confidence in Papazian's leadership ability, calling
her dedicated, hardworking and innovative. "I have no doubt this is
just the beginning of a great era for (SCSU)," Wyman said.
Papazian expressed her desire for Southern to increase its number of
out-of-state and international students. She said not only does that
help the university financially, but it enriches the social and
education experiences of Connecticut students.
And while much of her message focused on Southern's role in the public
and its commitment to students, she also shared a glimpse into her
management style. "This I pledge: I will have an open administration.
I will provide equitable treatment for all, and I will fulfill without
fail all official and unofficial responsibilities."
http://www.courant.com/community/hcrs-66219hc-new-haven-20121003,0,5273883.story
Oct 5 2012
Papazian Inaugurated As SCSU's 11th President
Joe Musante, Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven
7:10 p.m. EDT, October 5, 2012
Mary A. Papazian will seek to ensure that her university is a highly
significant player in the higher education landscape of Connecticut
and the region, and will prepare students for a knowledge-based
economy in the years ahead.
"Public universities like Southern must lead the way in showing that
what we can accomplish here is vitally important to the future of our
society," Papazian said. "We must make it clear to the public, to the
business community, and to the political establishment that investing
in an institution like Southern is not only an investment in the
students who attend the university, but also by extension, it is an
investment in the whole community and - and this isn't overstating it
- in the very future of America."
Papazian outlined her vision for SCSU during her inauguration last
Friday, held at the university's Lyman Center for the Performing Arts.
She is the 11th president of the school in its storied 119-year
history.
She is the second woman to become president at Southern, following
Cheryl J. Norton, who served from 2004 to 2010. She is also the first
Armenian-American woman to lead a U.S. university, according to the
Armenian Weekly.
Lewis J. Robinson Jr., chairman of the state Board of Regents for
Higher Education, presided over the ceremony and administered the
investiture charge to Papazian. Other speakers included Lt. Gov. Nancy
Wyman, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3), New Haven Mayor John DeStefano
Jr. and Hamden Mayor Scott P. Jackson.
Papazian, 53, is an accomplished scholar, particularly with regard to
British literature. She has studied and written about John Donne, a
metaphysical English poet from the late 16th and early 17th century.
Among her other interests are Armenian history and culture. She and
her husband, Dennis Papazian, have two daughters, Ani and Marie. They
reside in Woodbridge.
"Together, we will work to ensure that Southern continues to develop
into an outstanding, comprehensive, public university of significant
value to the local community, the state that supports us, and indeed,
our nation at large," Papazian said. "This is a university where we
strive to give the students every opportunity to acquire a first-class
education with a global vision in an enlightened, compassionate,
supportive and diverse environment...Together we will work to make
Southern the most successful university in its class."
Wyman expressed confidence in Papazian's leadership ability, calling
her dedicated, hardworking and innovative. "I have no doubt this is
just the beginning of a great era for (SCSU)," Wyman said.
Papazian expressed her desire for Southern to increase its number of
out-of-state and international students. She said not only does that
help the university financially, but it enriches the social and
education experiences of Connecticut students.
And while much of her message focused on Southern's role in the public
and its commitment to students, she also shared a glimpse into her
management style. "This I pledge: I will have an open administration.
I will provide equitable treatment for all, and I will fulfill without
fail all official and unofficial responsibilities."
http://www.courant.com/community/hcrs-66219hc-new-haven-20121003,0,5273883.story