Being the “new kid” on campus can be very nerve-wracking, especially if you are the new president of a university. But we all know that President Daniel Mahony has fit in quite well within the Winthrop community. He’s well liked among the faculty, is positive about the future of Winthrop and continues to amaze us every day by his interaction with the students.Â
photo by the Rock Hill HeraldÂ
As Winthrop’s new president, what do you plan to accomplish during the 2015-2016 school year? The first year I will be doing a lot of listening and learning. This will include meeting with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and local leaders. We have also put together several work groups that will be focused on seeing what improvements we can make in a variety of areas, including student recruitment and retention, employee satisfaction, fund raising, marketing, and community relations. The big goal will be to develop a clear strategic plan with measurable goals that will help guide what we do in the future.
What do you plan to do so that students will get to know you better? I have already found a lot of ways to interact with students by attending student events, having lunch with students in the cafeteria, speaking to student groups, and engaging with students in various activities on campus.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I spend most of my spare time with my family. That includes going to my children’s athletic events, church, and local restaurants.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? I spend a lot of time in the West Center, which I think is a great facility. I am there almost every day.
Why did you choose Winthrop? I think the two things that stood out were the people and the strong focus on student success. It was a place where we thought the values matched ours. We also felt Rock Hill would be a great community for our children.Â
Where are you from? That is always a hard question to answer. I was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up in New Jersey. However, I most recently lived in Northeast Ohio near Cleveland and I spent most of my adult life (13 years) in Louisville, Kentucky. I have also lived in several places in Virginia, other parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Oklahoma.
Where did you work before? Could you tell Her Campus a little more about what you did before you accepted this position at Winthrop? Before coming to Winthrop University, I spent seven years as dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at Kent State University. Before that, I was at the University of Louisville for 13 years as a faculty member and had a number of different administrative roles (program coordinator, department chair, associate dean, assistant provost, and associate provost). I have also worked as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, a graduate assistant at both West Virginia University and Ohio State University, an assistant ticket manager in the University of Cincinnati athletic department, a substitute teacher and assistant wrestling coach at North Hunterdon High School, a staff account for Peat Marwick Main, and a governor’s fellow in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office in Richmond, Virginia.Â
Did you have a busy summer? What is the most memorable thing you did this summer? Anytime you move it is very busy. I was also starting a new job and there was a lot to learn. We were so focused on the move and the new position that we did not have time to do a lot of other things. The most memorable thing was probably the first day as president. There was a lot of media coverage which is certainly not something I have experienced during a first day at work before.
Do you watch sports? If so, what’s your favorite team? I watch a variety of sports when I have time. Right now, my favorite teams to watch are the Winthrop Eagles. It is a lot more fun when you know the athletes.Â
What is something interesting that people don’t know about you? I come from a very large extended family – I have 48 first cousins.
What is the one piece of advice you can give to college students? The advice I always give is to get involved with as much as you possibly can while in college. Involved students tend to be more successful and you will get a lot more out of your college experience.