Choosing Winthrop is the best decision I could have made.


- President Edward A. Serna


” “


Twelfth President Edward A. Serna ‘02 has returned home to Winthrop after serv- ing as president at public institutions in Maine and Arkansas.


EDWARD A. SERNA FIRST ALUMNUS PRESIDENT READY to WORK 2


During a recent interview, he answered a variety of questions on why he chose to at- tend Winthrop as a non-traditional student, his plans for the university, how his family is settling in to campus life, and more.


of undergraduate credit hours from multiple insti- tutions and I wanted to find an institution where I could finally finish my degree. The mistake I had made in the past was thinking I needed a large flagship university experience or a private college experience, when I really needed an in- stitution that fit me and my needs. Winthrop was the right size for me. Choosing Winthrop is the best decision I could have made. Everyone was truly wonderful and accommodating, and once I arrived on campus in 2002 I put my nose to the grindstone and finished my degree in one year.


Q: Where did you grow up? A: I was born in Southern California, and my father was a defense contractor. So every few years when the defense contract changed we moved. I also lived in Colorado, Connecticut and then Georgia. My parents and brother, who is two years younger than me, still live in Georgia so it’s nice to be closer to family.


Q: How did you decide to attend Winthrop as a student? A: I hit one of those milestone birthdays and de- cided that I needed to make a change. I had a lot


Q: What faculty members made a positive impact on you as a student? A: Dr. Steven Frankforter [professor of manage- ment], who is still teaching at Winthrop, taught a capstone business course in Thurmond Building. His class synthesized all of the business classes and business experiences I had accumulated over a decade, and that class just brought it all together. Something clicked for me in that class that was the foundation for me continuing my graduate school work at Clemson and Auburn. Outside of business classes, Jack Weaver [pro- fessor emeritus of English] taught an English class on the second floor of Kinard. He would open the windows that overlooked Oakland Av- enue and talk about literature. I loved that class and the way he brought it all to life for me.


3

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18