AUBURN - With a wry laugh, Dennis Golladay characterized the arc of his career so far as “the antithesis of a strategic plan.”
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
Cayuga Community College President Dennis Golladay is leaving his position after 10 years to become the vice chancellor for community colleges for the State University of New York system.
Cayuga Community College President Dennis Golladay is leaving his position after 10 years to become the vice chancellor for community colleges for the State University of New York system.
The departing president of Cayuga Community College sat in his office last week, reflecting on his decade-long tenure at the school.
The remark underscored this irony: among his first priorities when he came to the presidency 10 years ago was the design of a strategic plan for the school.
“We didn't have one,” he said.
Now, as Golladay, 65, prepares for his new role as SUNY's vice chancellor for community colleges, he is witnessing the final phases of that plan's evolution. The college is now completing renovations on its theater and cafe, as well as relocating the bookstore.
A decade earlier, other, more formidable parts of that plan - the creation of what would become the James T. Walsh Regional Economic Center, which houses the NASA-sponsored Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT); the Cayuga Works Career Center and Industry Center; and the opening of a new branch campus in Fulton - had yet to be laid out.
Golladay attributed the school's exponential growth - facility, program and population-wise - to a college community that wholly embraced undertakings for significant change. Supporters, he said, included faculty, staff and ultimately the college's board of trustees.
Of the latter, he said, “They laid the tremendous foundation to raise funds that support the college's efforts and capital campaigns.”
Golladay noted that even prior to his presidency, CCC had amassed a foundation and assets far beyond those of the larger Maryland and Florida community colleges where he'd previously worked.
“I saw in the community a sense the college was valued,” he said. “A lot of people... put forth their time and effort to make sure this college thrives.”
Golladay may have spent much of his adult life migrating north (from Florida to Maryland and, most recently, to New York), but his heart, it's clear, rests permanently with his hometown of Waynesboro, Va. - the last battle site of the Civil War.
Hanging on one wall in Golladay's office, among the academic degrees, old maps and a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, is a framed ink print of the Confederate Lt. General Jubal A. Early, who, as Golladay put it, “lost my hometown” - and in the span of about 20 minutes at that.
Golladay has a doctorate in American history from the University of Virginia, and also taught history, first briefly at the University of Virginia and then at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. Teaching, has always been his first love.
Yet even as he seems to have gotten further and further away from his passion (the teaching stints took him through jobs as a college division chair, college dean, a vice president of student and academic affairs, a presidency and now, a vice chancellorship), the broad aspects of his work have illustrated his deep commitment to community.
In this region, Golladay served on the board of directors of the county's United Way; sat on and chaired the board of directors of the county's Chamber of Commerce; served one term as a member of the local Montessori school board and was honored three years ago with a Millennium Award from the Auburn-Cayuga chapter of the NAACP.
His immersion in public service and his outlook on the mission of a community college reflect one another.
“The school looks at the needs of the community and responds to those,” he said.
To that end, the school is gearing up to help stem the area's dwindling population and boost economic activity with a burgeoning center for entrepreneurial studies. The center will foster the programs and conditions to encourage more men and women to engage regionally in entrepreneurial activity, further rooting CCC's identity as an economic engine for the area.
“We want to open up to students what can be done right here, through their creativity and innovation,” he said.
Already, Golladay said, the school has secured grants to help with the initiative.
He was clearly excited about the developing program and, because he will no longer have a direct hand in the college's growth, leaves his post somewhat ambivalently. As SUNY reps work with a search committee to identify the new president, Golladay said, “My ties are pretty strong and pretty deep here. I hope I'll be forgiven for the extra attention I devote (in Albany) to Cayuga Community College.”
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 235, or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
The remark underscored this irony: among his first priorities when he came to the presidency 10 years ago was the design of a strategic plan for the school.
“We didn't have one,” he said.
Now, as Golladay, 65, prepares for his new role as SUNY's vice chancellor for community colleges, he is witnessing the final phases of that plan's evolution. The college is now completing renovations on its theater and cafe, as well as relocating the bookstore.
A decade earlier, other, more formidable parts of that plan - the creation of what would become the James T. Walsh Regional Economic Center, which houses the NASA-sponsored Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT); the Cayuga Works Career Center and Industry Center; and the opening of a new branch campus in Fulton - had yet to be laid out.
Golladay attributed the school's exponential growth - facility, program and population-wise - to a college community that wholly embraced undertakings for significant change. Supporters, he said, included faculty, staff and ultimately the college's board of trustees.
Of the latter, he said, “They laid the tremendous foundation to raise funds that support the college's efforts and capital campaigns.”
Golladay noted that even prior to his presidency, CCC had amassed a foundation and assets far beyond those of the larger Maryland and Florida community colleges where he'd previously worked.
“I saw in the community a sense the college was valued,” he said. “A lot of people... put forth their time and effort to make sure this college thrives.”
Golladay may have spent much of his adult life migrating north (from Florida to Maryland and, most recently, to New York), but his heart, it's clear, rests permanently with his hometown of Waynesboro, Va. - the last battle site of the Civil War.
Hanging on one wall in Golladay's office, among the academic degrees, old maps and a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, is a framed ink print of the Confederate Lt. General Jubal A. Early, who, as Golladay put it, “lost my hometown” - and in the span of about 20 minutes at that.
Golladay has a doctorate in American history from the University of Virginia, and also taught history, first briefly at the University of Virginia and then at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. Teaching, has always been his first love.
Yet even as he seems to have gotten further and further away from his passion (the teaching stints took him through jobs as a college division chair, college dean, a vice president of student and academic affairs, a presidency and now, a vice chancellorship), the broad aspects of his work have illustrated his deep commitment to community.
In this region, Golladay served on the board of directors of the county's United Way; sat on and chaired the board of directors of the county's Chamber of Commerce; served one term as a member of the local Montessori school board and was honored three years ago with a Millennium Award from the Auburn-Cayuga chapter of the NAACP.
His immersion in public service and his outlook on the mission of a community college reflect one another.
“The school looks at the needs of the community and responds to those,” he said.
To that end, the school is gearing up to help stem the area's dwindling population and boost economic activity with a burgeoning center for entrepreneurial studies. The center will foster the programs and conditions to encourage more men and women to engage regionally in entrepreneurial activity, further rooting CCC's identity as an economic engine for the area.
“We want to open up to students what can be done right here, through their creativity and innovation,” he said.
Already, Golladay said, the school has secured grants to help with the initiative.
He was clearly excited about the developing program and, because he will no longer have a direct hand in the college's growth, leaves his post somewhat ambivalently. As SUNY reps work with a search committee to identify the new president, Golladay said, “My ties are pretty strong and pretty deep here. I hope I'll be forgiven for the extra attention I devote (in Albany) to Cayuga Community College.”
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 235, or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
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Gwen Webber-McLeod wrote on Nov 28, 2006 3:53 PM: