James January-February 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 55
JAMES In the year and a half since you
became interim president at Savannah
State University, what do you consider
your most significant achievement?
How do you envision the future of SSU
moving forward?
CYNTHIA ROBINSON I was appointed
interim president in July 2023. At that
time the institution had experienced
over a 40 percent decline in enrollment
over a seven-year period and was
facing a significant budget shortfall.
Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated faculty, staff, and students, we
reversed the enrollment decline, for
two consecutive years enrollment has
increased and balanced budgets have
been submitted focused on student
success. SSU enrollment currently
stands at 3,208 students who come
from throughout the state and region.
Building on this momentum we
are focusing on both recruitment and
retention, as these efforts work in
tandem to create lasting success. Our
increased enrollment, recognition in
the Wall Street Journal College Pulse
survey as one of the Top 500 universities, and the expansion of programs in
areas like elementary education, forensic science, artificial intelligence and
cybersecurity are strong incentives for
attracting prospective students.
Once students arrive on campus,
we are committed to keeping them
engaged academically and socially. For
example, I introduced the “Chat and
Chill” monthly sessions, which allow
students to connect with university
leadership in a relaxed setting. Our
first session of the school year coin-
cided with our Student Marketplace,
where students could explore over 70
student organizations— thus building a
sense of community.
Additionally, we’ve revitalized the
Student Success Center, which provides tutoring, advising and counseling to help students stay on track from
their first day through graduation.
SSU has a bright and prosperous
future now with increased enrollment
and stable budget. We are now able to
invest in new initiatives such as offering a degree in elementary education
beginning Fall of 2025.
JAMES You previously served as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance for
the University System of Georgia and
held key positions in various businesses. How has this experience prepared
you to lead Savannah State University?
ROBINSON My 14 years with the University System of Georgia Board of
Regents allowed me to gain invaluable
insights into the workings of 26 institutions, giving me a deep understanding
of what strategies lead to success.
This experience equipped me with a
comprehensive toolkit for addressing
challenges and problem-solving in
complex environments.
In addition, my 25 years in real estate managing a coast-to-coast investment portfolio helped hone my ability
to work collaboratively with diverse
teams and navigate high-stakes situations. My background in finance has
been especially useful in addressing
SSU’s budgetary challenges early in
my tenure, enabling us to make strate-
gic, sometimes difficult, decisions that
positioned the university for long-term
growth.
JAMES What are the most sought-after
degrees and academic programs at
Savannah State University?
ROBINSON We offer 30 baccalaureate
degrees and four graduate degrees
across four colleges: Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts and
Social Sciences, and Sciences and
Technology. Among our most popular
programs are Business Administration
and Management, Biology, Criminal
Justice, Marine Science and Mass
Communication.
With the recent expansion of program offerings in our College of Education to include a degree in Elementary
Education, we anticipate a significant
rise in enrollment there as well. In
addition, the Georgia Film Academy
southeast Georgia hub is located on
our campus.
JAMES What are you doing to address
the rising cost of tuition? Does the
university offer scholarships or other
financial aid opportunities to support
students?
ROBINSON Students in Georgia enjoy
one of the most affordable higher
education experiences in the U.S., with
tuition costs 16.59 percent below the
national average. However, we recognize that tuition remains a financial
challenge for many.
JA N UA RY/ F E B RUARY 2025
55
