UHCL Presidential Candidate Cheryl Lovell aims to focus on students

Cheryl Lovell, the second of four candidates chosen by the UHCL Presidential Search Committee, presented herself to students and faculty at her open forum on campus April 4. She spoke about her background and qualifications before taking questions from the audience.

Lovell is currently the special advisor to the chancellor and to the chief academic officer for the Colorado State University system. She also served as president and chief academic officer at Rocky Vista University in Colorado from 2013 to 2015, where she is now the president emeritus.

Lovell holds a doctorate in higher education from Florida State University. Her dissertation topic was faculty grievances, a study of conflict issues in the university system in the state of Florida.

She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, as well as extensive academic policy and student affairs experience.

A first generation college student, Lovell is the youngest of four siblings who were raised by her mother in the projects of Atlanta. Her mother constantly reminded her about the importance of education growing up.

“It always interested me how she would know that having not experienced very much education herself,” Lovell said. “But, she realized how much the absence of it was such a limitation on her ability to make a substantial income as a single mother.”

Lovell credits advisors and faculty for sparking her interest in student affairs and for helping her succeed when she was struggling in college.

“They took the time to see something in me that said, ‘Give her a chance, she can do this,’” Lovell said. “They showed me that with some discipline and some assistance, I could do more than what I was capable of. So, my job as president is to make sure that you’re balanced and that you’re not carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

Lovell said that her experience moving from assistant professor to becoming a successful president helps her understand the mindset of all of the students and faculty of the university.

Lovell also spoke of what she felt about UHCL that made her want to become a university president again.

“I’m so impressed with your mission and focus on community and partnership,” Lovell said. “You want to grow and move forward. I want to be on a winning team and you’re a winning university.”

Lovell wants to be an example for the faculty of the importance that she places on having a healthy “work-life balance.”

“I really like work and sometimes I get so caught up that sometimes I have to stop [and] make myself go home,” Lovell said. “I keep a balance by keeping an active home life and doing a marathon training program and triathlons. I want people to see that is okay; but at the same time I want the university to feel like it is getting its money’s worth out of me and that I, as well as you all, are living up to expectations.”

Lovell also spoke about what is needed in order for the university to increase enrollment, which is currently a pressing issue at UHCL.

“You have to make sure you are really connected to your external communities and understand the workforce needs in your region,” Lovell said. “You then have to align your academic programs to meet those, so that they have to come here because it’s the best program to propel their career.”

You can share your feedback on Cheryl Lovell with the search committee by completing a feedback survey form.

Ira Blake, the third presidential candidate to present, held an open forum April 11. Lawrence Dreyfus will be the final candidate to present April 25.

Also published on Medium.