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Zinser sees opportunities for SOU Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Southern Oregon University President Elizabeth Zinser, right, spent Tuesday - her first official day of work at SOU - making phone calls and getting out to meet people on campus. Here Zinser talks in the Student Union with Tika Viteri. New president seeks alliances in region, state By TONY BOOM Elizabeth Zinser, Southern Oregon University's new president, spent much of her first day in office on the phone or meeting people on the Ashland campus. "I'm just now starting the process of making direct contact," Zinser said Tuesday. "We have a familiarization period that will be the better part of a year." Challenges she'll face include running a university on a shoestring budget while trying to expand SOU's role in the Rogue Valley. Zinser was named SOU's president in February by the state Board of Higher Education. She was previously chancellor of the University of Kentucky-Lexington and president of the University of Idaho. She succeeds interim President Sara Hopkins-Powell, who has returned to her duties as vice president of academic affairs. "I won't put a template down on the university," said Zinser. "I need to make sure I'm exercising a strong reality check with some of the biases I'm bringing in." SOU's role in Medford will be one of the most important relationships she will explore, looking for programs that are appropriate and unique for Medford compared to those on the Ashland campus. "We are just beginning to scratch the surface in what can be done for the greater Rogue Valley," said Zinser. Growth for SOU will be necessary because the valley is growing, she added. Operating the institution on a tight budget will be another challenge, said Zinser. Compared to other states, Oregon ranks near the bottom in state support for higher education. "The institution has a talent of doing a good job with limited resources," said Zinser. "I've seen universities that have more money but don't get nearly as much out of the dollar." SOU is currently searching for a new vice president of student affairs. The position proved difficult to fill three years ago because of a low salary compared to national standards. "One of the things that may be helpful is to find someone who wants to build a career (starting) in a place that is friendly and small," said Zinser. The new president would like to form new partnerships to bring more programs to the university. She thinks the potential exists to create a strong partnership with the Oregon Health and Sciences University. She also said partnerships with Oregon State University and the University of Oregon could be advantageous. "They are there and would be important if SOU is going to develop," said Zinser. Zinser, who holds master's degrees in nursing and management and a doctorate in philosophy, served as president at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She resigned after four days at Gallaudet, the nation's only university for the deaf, where students and faculty erupted in protest upon news of her appointment and demanded a deaf president. Zinser said she has remained in close contact with the deaf community at Gallaudet and is listed in the Guinness World Records for the shortest stint as a university president, an oddball honor that was once a question on the "Jeopardy" trivia show. After her appointment to SOU's top post in February, Zinser visited Oregon twice to become better acquainted with the campus and state university system. Senior campus officers prepared written overviews on their areas. During the past few weeks Zinser has moved into the president's house on Elkader Street. She also took time out to explore Southern Oregon's rivers and coast and went water-skiing for the first time in 10 years at Lake of the Woods. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.