We start back with Richard D. McCullough, vice president for research, Harvard University, another of the candidates vying for next president of FSU. He's introducing himself as coming from modest background, worked in pizza parlors, went to state schools.
Says he normally doesn't pursue such opportunities but FSU really interested him: "I feel like this was really calling me...I have a fire in the belly."
Talks about FSU getting into AAU, prestigious group of research uni's, says it'll be hard, school has to look at imbalance of where it's getting funding and needs to step up research expenditures. FSU needs to make impact in "innovation and entrepreneurship" in particular.
"Florida State needs to tell its story a little bit stronger, be a little bit bolder," McCullough says. Needs to focus on increasing grad rate...mentions startup companies and job creation, referring to entrepreneurship training again. (This plays well b4 GOP lawmakers btw.)
He talks about fundraising experience, building an endowment: Says he is "highly experienced," does it "as a source of pride" but also develops relationships through it. Has been personally involved in getting $75M worth of gifts.
McCullough says FSU should focus on increasing research $$$, better telling the story of its own success and better helping students from modest backgrounds. That includes reaching out to current minority students and potential students, what do they need to succeed.
He said he would only take on only Black and women post-docs, referring to his own experience. He created a Future Faculty Leadership program for the next gen of professors. It's helped 50 people in underrepresented minorities get academic jobs.
"Diversity equals excellence."
"Diversity equals excellence."
FSU pride "makes athletics a precious resource," student athletes are natural leaders, "you want folks who are driven." President needs to be engaged with them, with athletic director, know what's going on.
Trends in higher ed, "pandemic has accelerated the future": changed teaching, made us learn online learning has a place, how we teach vs. how students learn.
What have we learned: "Students don't like to go to class" but that doesn't mean they don't want to learn.
What have we learned: "Students don't like to go to class" but that doesn't mean they don't want to learn.
FSU gets about $500M in Nat'l Institutes of Health funding...that needs to increase, but McCullough says FSU may not need a teaching hospital, for instance.
FSU does need to step up engagement, alumni relations, could be raising more $$ than it does now from alumni base.
FSU does need to step up engagement, alumni relations, could be raising more $$ than it does now from alumni base.
If picked, in 5 years, McCullough says FSU could be in top 15 of public universities, have $500M in research funding, get grad rates up, increase alumni giving.
What he did at Carnegie Mellon and at Harvard is encourage faculty to start their own companies to practice what they preach. Push for innovations, see FSU lead in diversity, focus on building programs, have vision that prioritizes students: "That's what it's all about."
Up next: Michael K. Young, president emeritus and professor of law and professor of public policy, Texas A&M University.
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