SRU welcomes its new president
SLIPPERY ROCK — Excitement, applause and a sense of relief filled the air Thursday at the Smith Student Center Ballroom at Slippery Rock University.
The university's new president, William Behre, met with students, faculty and more members of the community, first during a welcome presentation and news conference and later during a reception.
“I don't know if it's possible to be proud and humble at the same time, but that's sort of where I am,” Behre said. “I guess it's not the first time I'm going to sound like Yogi Berra in front of you.”
Behre's selection by the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education finalized a 1½-year search. During that time, Philip Way was SRU's interim president.
“Over the next few months, I look forward to working with President Way on a transition,” Behre said.
Behre said he acknowledges the success of the university, and he doesn't want to act before he understands how high to set his goals.“It's a really challenging higher education landscape right now, and what's really fantastic about this place is the struggle that you have is how do you thrive, it's not how do you survive,” he said. “You're not worrying about turning the lights on next week.”The university has seen a fairly steady enrollment over the years. For the spring 2018 semester, initial figures reflected 8,368 students with 1,172 of those being graduate students.Behre has nearly 25 years of experience in higher education, including working as an educator, researcher, faculty leader and administrator. Since February 2014, he has served chief academic officer for Georgian Court University in New Jersey.“Being a good leader, and especially in a transitional period, is not about what my opinions are,” Behre said. “It really is marshaling the resources of the community toward a shared goal, and that's the only way you can lead higher ed.”Although he's new to Western Pennsylvania, he has ties and familiarity with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.“I lived in Bucks County for a long time,” Behre said. “The PASSHE system is very familiar to me. My kids went to high school through the Pennsylvania public schools, and so I'm very knowledgeable as a parent and consumer as well about the system and the structures.”Behre said he and his wife, Leah, have explored a few times since midway through the selection process. He said he still needs to find his way and figure out how the university fits into a greater community.“I do know that this president has to engage in the local community and continue to be a part of the local community,” Behre said. “In terms of local knowledge, I'm still figuring that out.”He said so far the community has been the most enticing factor about the opportunity. He said they have welcomed him in a way that makes him want to stay.Behre said has known great university presidents who served long terms, one even served a 17-year tenure after what he considered a great career.“It would be a whole lot of hubris to say that I'll be standing here 17 years from now, but I don't view this as a short-term gig.”
