Meet Rosemont's 14th President Jayson Boyers, EdD

What drew you to Rosemont College?

As long as I can recall, I’ve been painting a picture in my head of the kind of institution I would like to serve as President. When my wife saw Rosemont College’s posting, she brought it to my attention because it fit that picture: an accredited small Catholic College that links vocation with meaning.

Many elements in the College’s mission attracted me. I love the term “fostering joy.” Working in higher education is a real ly joyful way to express meaning. I was also pleased to see care for the earth, a special concern of mine and my wife, Mandy.

How do you respond when someone questions the value of a liberal arts education?

We need to always be asking, “have we taught students how to build a life?” Jobs change, industries change, but students need to learn how to think, how to be problem solvers, and how to make meaning in their lives. The human condition (or life, in general) is filled with patterns, and stu dents need to learn those patterns. Sure, a student can aspire to work in finance and do debits and credits all day, but it’s important that they also learn history, science, and art, for example, and how all of those subjects fit together and create better communities through their very expression. And, most importantly, students need to learn to think critically.

What is your approach to serving adult students?

What we consider the non-traditional student is an in creasing demographic. I was one of them. I earned all three of my degrees as an adult student. We need to make educa tion work for our adult students by providing what they need on campus and online. Learning should be lifelong. I like Cornelia Connelly's mission to “meet the wants of the age.” We need to embrace opportunities for our non-traditional students.

A Conversation With Rosemont's New President

In January, the Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Jayson Boyers, EdD as the College’s 14th President. Currently the President of Cleary University in Howell, Michigan, Dr. Boyers will assume office on June 1st, follow ing the May 31st retirement of President Sharon Latchaw Hirsh, PhD ’70. Before serving as President of Cleary University, Dr. Boyers was the Vice President and Managing Director of Continuing Professional Studies (National Online Division) for Champlain College in Vermont. In 2017, he earned a Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leader ship at Creighton University. He has a Master of Leadership Development degree in Organizational Leadership from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies from the University of Indianapolis. President-elect Dr. Jayson Boyers visited Rosemont in Feb ruary and held two Open Forums in the Community Center for students, faculty, staff to get to know him and for him to learn more about Rosemont.

How does your experience as a first-generation college student inform your work as a college president?

I consider myself an accidental college president. I was a first-generation college student, as was my wife. In my expe rience, which is common to many first-generation students, my family felt somewhat dismayed by my desire to attend college and they were not equipped to support me finan cially or emotionally. My first attempt at college was not a success and I, like many of Rosemont’s students, finished my bachelor’s degree as an adult learner. I am sensitive to the fact that our students face many types of challenges.

So much falls on the faculty and support services. I believe what happens in the classroom sets the trajectory of the college. For example, when I joined the Cleary University community, I saw students with increased needs that im pacted their ability to succeed, but limited support services. I invested in an Instructional Design team to assist faculty in developing course content that engages and meets student needs.

What is the best way to attract new students?

I want to make the classroom engaging first and foremost. I believe we are most successful when we express who we are and then we will attract students who want to be part of our community and who we can best serve. We have to look at getting students who will benefit from the Rosemont

experience, keeping them, and focusing on student success.

How do you view your role as college president?

We are in relationship with those we serve. What I like most about my role as President is the idea that it is my job to create an environment where people can live out their meaning. The next gener ation looks for vocation and meaning; not just getting a job, but building a life. Rosemont has the potential to offer this to our students.

I am a believer in data, yet I manage by walking around campus. I wander. And I will wander around campus to avoid being isolated in a bubble as Rosemont’s President. I want people to be with people. I want to connect people to the “why” of Rosemont.

I care about what’s best for the organi zation. I want to give people the tools to be successful. I believe in being transpar ent. I like to go walk around campus when I’m thinking through decisions that need to be made. I like to be thoughtful in my decisions. You might hear me say “pon der” quite a bit. If I’m asked a question and need time to address it, I may use “The Great Pause” and respond with, “I need to ponder it.”

I’m known to take my laptop to work in shared spaces where I can interact with members of the community. I’m an open book. The best thing I can do is get people to know me and be authentically me. My prior ity is to make sure this community thrives.

I want to work together. I want to work with people who are passionate about what they do at Rosemont. During my first six months, I want to have a conversation with the Rosemont community about where we want to go and how to get there. In year three, I want us to look back and say, ‘we made it’ and take a deep breath.

How can Rosemont rise to the challenges faced by all small colleges?

It is true that all small colleges have their challenges, but I’m intrigued by what I see at Rosemont. I’ve met many people who have worked here for many years. There must be something special at the core of Rosemont to make that so.

I believe that there is a place for small colleges, and we need to avoid magnify ing short-term issues and challenges. We can’t confuse a short-term challenge with a long-term destiny.

Challenges exist: outside forces, demographics, the economy. Part of the solution is “Partner or Perish.” Small colleges must become part of the commu nity. We need friends and must deepen relationships. In order to succeed, small colleges must be distinct about who they are, not chasing the shiny objects or every population. Small colleges must define who they serve best.

What accomplishment from your time as President of Cleary University makes you proudest?

I’m a relationship guy. I’m proud of the relationships we created that are of value and how we serve the other. I’m proud of the relationships we built with the busi ness community near Cleary University, creating opportunities to engage with others. We used to be the college people drove past but now people stop in and engage with us.

Rosemont, like Cleary, is a unique organization. I do not want to assume that what Cleary needs is what Rosemont needs. What might work at one place might not work elsewhere.

What do you do to relax?

I’m an avid reader. I often read three books at a time in a rotation of biography, nonfiction, and fiction. I also like pop science and learning about new innova tions. My favorite author is Jon Hassler. His novels are about small towns, and I feel like I see myself in many of his charac ters. I’ve read his book North of Hope over 10 times. I also enjoy reading essays and following my favorite columnists on Twit ter. I like traveling and going on spiritual retreats. I did a silent retreat for a week in Lake Tahoe that was very powerful. My wife and I have two rescue dogs, and we like to go on walks together to debrief at the end of the day.

Do you think you’ll become an Eagles fan?

Sorry, no. I’m a Cleveland Browns fan and that will never change. I grew up watching the Browns, and I am a loyal guy, so that won’t change! As I tell my wife, “You can’t help who you fall in love with!”