BANGOR, Maine — Husson University's board of trustees announced that Lynne Coy-Ogan, the school's current senior vice president of academic affairs and provost, will be the university's new president—making her the 125-year-old institution's first female president.
The board started considering candidates to lead the university after the school's long-term president Dr. Robert Clark announced his retirement last October. Clark served as the university's president and CEO for 15 years, making him the longest-serving president of any college or university in Maine.
"I hope it provides a platform for a future generation of female leaders to aspire to the personal aspirations in their own careers," Coy-Ogan said.
Daniel Hutchins III, chair of the Husson Board of Trustees and the search committee, said the search committee began its quest by considering internal candidates first, but associate vice president of safety and security Chris Grotten, who also served on the search committee, said the search for a new leader could very well have been an extensive national search process.
"Any time an organization goes through a change in leadership that always brings with a little bit of anxiety," Grotten said. "In this particular case, it was wonderful to be able to find that mix of vision, passion, and experience right here within our own community."
Coy-Ogan has held a career in education since 1987. She has served in several roles at Husson University for 19 years. She became provost in 2009, and then the vice president of academic affairs the following year. She originally joined the school as dean of the School of Education in 2005
But—Grotten said Coy-Ogan's lengthy experience at Husson wasn't what made her a standout candidate for the job.
"She has clear, strong passion for not just Husson University—and what makes Husson a special place but for our students, our staff, our faculty," Grotten said. "She embraces this in everything she does, and that passion is really something that was very clear throughout the interview process."
Grotten said that Coy-Ogan's strengths in being creative and innovative drive his trust in her ability to lead the way, tackling challenges like low enrollment.
According to Grotten, enrollment at post-secondary institutions is down across the country, making it an issue that countless colleges and universities are experiencing.
Husson specifically saw nearly a six-percent decline in enrollment when comparing the 2022 school year to the 2023 school year.
"Husson historically had been a Maine-centered, Central Maine business school," Grotten said. "I think we're reaching out further than ever before. We're recruiting in a larger footprint. and we're recruiting across the nation and internationally."
Coy-Ogan said she plans to use her strengths to improve the student experience and to work towards incorporating new technologies into studies, programs, and curriculum.
She will begin addressing enrollment issues and other challenges after assuming her role as Husson University president on July 1.