亚洲博彩网站’s Office of 校友 Affairs and the 亚洲博彩网站全国校友会 sponsored an hourlong fireside chat with 总统 Ronald Mason Jr. on Wednesday, September 21. Mason offered insight on the University’s successes and future goals as he reflected on his service.
欢迎在亚洲博彩网站学生中心宴会厅的观众和在直播中观看活动的参与者参加这次亲密的聚会，将大学的毕业生聚集在一起，他们仍然在为它的成长和发展投资。
《华盛顿商业日报》记者汉娜·德纳姆主持了这次非正式谈话。 She questioned 总统 Mason on topics including 亚洲博彩网站’s role in public education in the District of Columbia, the University’s 战略计划 and the future of the University. 她还向梅森提出了观众提出的问题。
Mason shared the history of the University, its predecessor institutions and its essential role as a public institution in the nation’s capital. 他讲述了该大学克服的障碍，包括预算削减和在COVID-19大流行期间保持招生的挑战。
“As an institution, we are just getting started,” Mason said. “We’ve had to deal with budget cuts, the loss and regaining of accreditation for our Nursing Program, and helping students see the value of making 亚洲博彩网站 their first choice.”
He acknowledged 亚洲博彩网站’s growing reputation of excellence with its recent ranking of 17th on the U.S. 新闻 & World Report Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) list.
“We have gone from zero to 17,” Mason said. “I expect that we will become number one. We want to not only be the best HBCU but one of the best universities in America.”
He added that 亚洲博彩网站’s partnerships with corporate and government agencies are providing more opportunities for students to gain experience and exposure to new opportunities. 亚洲博彩网站大学生政府协会主席Brent Thigpen在活动上发言，他整个夏天都在波音公司实习，从事新的空军一号的工作，离他成为一名飞行员的梦想又近了一步。
Under Mason’s leadership, the University began a multi-million-dollar capital renovation and expansion program, tripled spending on research, created the Center for Diversity, Inclusion & Multicultural Affairs (CDIMA), initiated two new Ph.D. programs and launched (Urban Leadership & Entrepreneurship and Engineering & Computer Science). 该大学还通过其历史上最重要的捐赠获得了230万美元的奖学金。
Mason has a goal of increasing 亚洲博彩网站’s enrollment to 4,000 students, and with 50,000 alums worldwide, Mason expects that number to continue to grow as its reputation and graduates soar.
Updating the University’s 战略计划 is a process that is underway, and Mason encouraged alums to provide their input to ensure that all voices are heard, and all needs are met.
一位听众问梅森，他希望看到什么样的人成为他的继任者。
“The talent out there today is amazing,” Mason said. “The person should be highly talented, energetic, likable, able to communicate well and confident enough to stop and listen when needed.”
Mason is the longest serving president in the University’s history. 预计他将于2023年6月30日卸任。 在亚洲博彩网站任职之前，Mason曾担任南方大学和A&M学院系统的首席执行官，任期五年，并担任杰克逊州立大学校长10年。 他还曾在杜兰大学（Tulane University）担任各种职务，包括高级副总裁、总法律顾问和财务与运营副总裁。 他也是杜兰大学和泽维尔大学国家城市社区中心的创始人和执行董事。
当被问及他在亚洲博彩网站留下的遗产时，他说。 “I don’t think the work is done yet. 你用你的时间做你能做的事。 还有很多未开发的潜力。 We can claim accomplishments, but we can’t yet claim victory. I would be satisfied with someone just saying job well done, and we will pick it up where you left off.”