“We are operating in a ‘new normal.’ Winthrop needs a president who can provide vision, leadership, and implementation,” said incoming Winthrop president Edward Serna. “I am ready to take on those challenges and look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and others to come up with a strategic plan to move the university forward.”
Adapting to the “new normal” left by the COVID-19 pandemic is just one of the challenges that the incoming president plans to tackle, and his extensive experience working in higher education is sure to help him.
Serna has been working at universities all over the country since 2013. After working as an assistant professor at Athens State University and in several administrative positions at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, Serna became the president of the University of Maine at Farmington in 2019.
His higher education career came after working in business management for 11 years.
“My business background combined with my higher education experience has prepared me to understand the many perspectives needed to run a college campus,” Serna said. “I bring not only management knowledge to Winthrop but also a passion for this institution and for advancing the critical mission of public higher education.”
Passion for Winthrop comes easy for Serna, who got one of his four degrees here. Many are optimistic about Serna because of his alumnus status and think that this will help contribute to a bright future for the school.
“First of all, how incredible is it that an alumnus is coming back to lead the University,” said exercise science program director Janet Wojcik. “I really liked how in his presentation he discussed how we need to figure out who we are and how we fit into the regional landscape as an educational institution.”
“I am very excited that Dr. Serna will join Winthrop as its 12th President, especially since he is a graduate of our College of Business Administration,” said dean and professor of accounting P.N. Saksena. “We are looking forward to working in partnership with President Serna to continue to provide a transformative education to our students.”
It is that business background that Serna believes gives him the unique tools that will help him excel as president.
“My time in the private sector gave me a good foundation for strategic thinking, financial management, data analysis, leadership and teamwork,” Serna said. “Once I started teaching, I fell in love with working in higher education and made a career shift to educational leadership.”
Serna highlighted the goals that he hopes to accomplish in his acceptance presentation, such as “working to increase our student enrollment, building on the synergy in the Rock Hill community, making Winthrop accessible for students, keeping the cost of Winthrop affordable and reaching out to strengthen and form partnerships across the campus and broader community.”
For most of these goals, Serna says he will not be able to get started on making plans until he can get started in his new position and discuss them with his fellow faculty members.
He already has a few ideas for increasing student enrollment.
“We need to tell the Winthrop story more broadly and share what makes the Winthrop experience unique,” Serna said. “Focusing on our historic and beautiful campus, which has always been a major draw, is certainly part of that as well.”
Overall, Serna is looking forward to getting started at Winthrop and making an impact that will help the student body.
“I love talking with students, feeding off their passion and hearing their perspectives on the issues of the day. I will be involved on campus with students as much as I can, balancing that with the need to enhance our partnerships with the external community, donors and legislators,” Serna said.
“It is an honor to be selected as the 12th president of Winthrop. I look forward to leading bold change here at Winthrop that will resonate with the community and advance our core mission. My wife Lauren, our girls and I are excited to move to Rock Hill and look forward to being there this summer.”
