Dr. Barry Ryan served as President of Woodbury University in California from 2022 to 2024. Woodbury, at the time of this interview in early 2023, had an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students. In June 2024, they finalize their merger with the University of Redlands

A first-generation college student, Dr. Ryan fell in love with higher education. He has served in virtually every education context, from large state universities to private non-profit and for-profit institutions of all sizes.

He has lengthy service as a faculty member and as a department chair, founder of a center for teaching and learning, dean, vice president, provost, and president.

Dr. Ryan is also an attorney. His legal service has included practice, law school teaching, and consulting. He is admitted to the bars of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Courts of California and Virginia, He worked in the chambers of former Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.

Dr. Ryan earned his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a JD from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.Div. from Fuller Seminary, his BA in History from Westmont College, and a post-graduate Diploma in Global Business from the Saïd School of Business, Oxford University.

Questions

• Let’s start off by talking about Woodbury University. I believe it’s one of the oldest higher education institutions in Southern California. Can you do a brief profile of Woodbury, your students, and programs? What are some of the programs you are most noted for?
• A new study shows 50% of students attending colleges that close their doors do not continue their education. What role can/should small colleges & accreditors play in keeping more of these students continuing their education?
• Small colleges are very different compared to larger institutions and state systems. Can you discuss some of the challenges and advantages you see?
• How best can Presidents from smaller colleges and universities introduce and implement online classes/program degree programs and certificates?
• Barry, most of your professional life has been in the field of higher education. What attracted you to a university career? Did you have mentors along the way, and what lessons did you learn from them about being a university leader?
• As you know, enrollment of traditional students has been declining across the United States, and more schools are closing or merging. How do you envision the future of smaller colleges and universities?

Dr. Janelle Vanasse is the President of Alaska Pacific University, located in Anchorage, Alaska. She has been a leader in education for more than 30 years, specifically at schools and institutions that prioritize Alaska Native education. Immediately prior to joining APU, Vanasse served as superintendent in Sitka. She also held a range of leadership roles in the Bethel area, including principal.

Throughout her career, Dr. Vanasse has elevated the educational experience for Alaska Native students. She believes that scholarship and leadership are enhanced when influenced by our authentic selves.

Dr. Vanasse holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from St. Cloud State University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Gonzaga University. Her most recent academic work includes research about the power of cultural self-identity in college persistence.

Questions

• Janelle, Let’s start by talking about Alaska Pacific University. Can you do a brief profile of APU? I believe you have around 550 students. Tell me about your students and degree programs. What are some of the programs you are most noted for?
• With the school located in a state with a population of less than 750,000, you can’t depend on students coming from a 100-mile radius like schools located in states with millions of people. What attracts students to Alaska Pacific?
• I believe about 25% of your students are Alaska native students. In your opinion, how do high school native students and families perceive higher education, and what are the reasons they opt into or out of attending higher education?
• When we talked with you as we prepared for the show, you mentioned that the university is working toward becoming a tribal college. Can you tell us what a tribal college is and what its advantages are?
• You, like many other Alaskans I’ve known, seem to be adventurers. The Bemidji Pioneer, your hometown paper in Minnesota, interviewed you, and you talked about your career as an educator, which led you eventually to Bethel, Alaska. You first went to Fairbanks for a year and then you said to the paper: “When that didn’t feel like an adventure enough, I moved out to Bethel, Alaska, which is a rural, off-the-road community”. You seemed to have found what you were looking for. Tell us what you saw and how that experience attracted you to become President of APU.
• The school was established in the late 1950s, just before Alaska became the 49th state to enter the union. During these past 60-plus years, I imagine APU has established several partnerships that have benefited the school and the outside community. Can you tell us about a few of those partnerships?
• Why are small colleges and universities like yours important?

Joining us today is President Ryan Smith, President of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. He joined the institution as President in October 2019.

Ryan spent the first 23 years of his career working as a Vice President and partner with Smith financial advisors. In 2007 he was elected to the Gallipolis City School board, and in 2012 he won election to be State Representative for the 93rd District of Ohio. He served as Finance Chairman and in 2018, Ryan was elected to serve as the 103rd Speaker of the Ohio House until stepping down from his post in October 2019.

He is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B. S. degree in Finance. His wife, Vicki, graduated from Rio Grande and they are the proud parents of four children.

Questions:

• The University of Rio Grande is a private university founded in 1876, and Rio Grande Community College is a public community college that was founded in 1974. They have separate boards and funding structures. Can you discuss with our audience about this unusual model and its advantages?
• For a small institution located in a rural region, you have quite an intercollegiate athletic program. Tell us about the program and the students who participate.
• You do not come from a traditional path to become a university president. However, you have been a public servant first at the local school board and then the state legislature, where you served not only as a legislature but as Speaker of the House. Are they similar in any way and what lessons in leadership you learned in public office are applicable in your current position?
• The school has been in the community since 1876. Can you tell us about the school’s involvement with the outside community meaning businesses and people in the region?
• I have read articles and talked with individuals over the past years that question the viability and sustainability of smaller colleges and universities. Tell us why in your opinion the value of small schools such as yours to higher education

Joining us today is Dr. Stephanie Niles, President of Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, which has an enrollment of approximately 350 students. She is a national leader in her field and has been a successful, strategic, and innovative leader at multiple outstanding liberal arts institutions. Dr. Niles came to Cottey from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where she served as the Vice President for Enrollment and Communications.

In 2018-19, Dr. Niles served as the president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. In 2017, Dr. Niles was the recipient of a Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award and participated in a cross-cultural exchange examining the higher education systems in France and Belgium.

Dr. Niles holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a Master of Science degree in education from Indiana University, and a doctor of education degree in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania. WELCOME DR. NILES!

Questions

Dr. Niles, Let’s start by speaking about Cottey College. Can you give our audience a brief history of the origins of your institution, your students, and your programs?

In 1927, the founder of the school, Virginia Alice Cottey, bequeathed the college to an organization titled the P.E.O. Sisterhood, making it the only nonsectarian college owned and supported by women. Tell us about the P.E.O. and this rather unique relationship in today’s world.

I believe there are less than 100 private four-year liberal arts colleges with less than 500 students in the United States, and I imagine even fewer that are all women. Some people argue that small colleges are not sustainable and should close. What, in your opinion, is the reason why schools like Cottey are important to society?

In preparing for our conversation today, I learned that in addition to having international students from over twenty countries, your students at an early stage in their college careers get to travel to another country with classmates and faculty for no tuition fee, and the airfare and hotel are covered. That’s quite a commitment. Why does Cottey believe this is so important to the student?

For a college with less than 500 students, you have quite an intercollegiate athletic program. Tell us about the program and the students who participate.

Dr. Niles, I have a series of final questions - briefly, what attracted you to a career in higher education? Second, did you have mentors, and how did they help you; finally, what lessons did you learn from them about being a leader of an organization?

We want to thank our special guest, Dr. Stephanie Niles, President of Cottey College. That concludes this special episode of Higher Ed Without Borders, Small College America. If you would like to comment on today’s show and suggest a future guest, please go to www.higherededwithoutborders.com Comments section.