PRESIDENT CHOSEN

An excited murmur filled the room as the observers waited to witness the conclusion of the presidential search.

The chatter quickly turned to silence as the Board of Trustees voted. The room burst into applause moments later as Sharon Gaber was unanimously selected to be the 17th president of the University of Toledo.

Gaber, one of the final three candidates brought on campus for interviews, is UT’s first female president. The Board of Trustees chairman, Joseph Zerbey, announced the decision after the board held a brief executive session in a closed-door meeting.

Following the vote, Zerbey introduced Gaber as the new president of the university in a press conference, speaking about her previous accomplishments in past positions.

After Zerbey’s introduction, Gaber thanked both the board and the UT community, and expressed her confidence in UT’s future.

“In our faculty, in our clinicians, in our researchers, it’s clear that all the people and pieces for our continued success are right here, and by working as a team, engaged with our community, I’m excited about the future that we will create,” Gaber said.

According to Gaber, the search itself was challenging, but she felt fortunate to have been selected.

“I’m excited, it’s a great opportunity. The university seems like a wonderful place,” Gaber said. “The students, faculty, staff, they all have been terrific when I have talked to them so I am really excited.”

As far as immediate plans, Gaber said there will be a transitional period, and for now her only goal is to get to know the various groups on campus.

“I want to get to know students, faculty, staff and administrators, to be able to figure out what we need to put in place, to be able to take the next steps. So that’s my plan, is to be able to collaborate, get input and then make some progress,” Gaber said.

Interim President Nagi Naganathan expressed his optimism for Gaber’s term as president.

“I think they picked an excellent president for the University of Toledo. I think that I am very optimistic for the future of this university,” Naganathan said. “She’s very qualified, well experienced. I think she’s going to be very good in working with the people, so I am very optimistic.”

Once the transitional period has been completed, Naganathan said he plans to return to his original position as Dean of the College of Engineering.

Zerbey said he is confident in the board’s choice of Gaber as the new president.

“I think you’re going to see a president that’s committed to increasing enrollment, increasing philanthropy to the foundation, interacting with our alumni across the country and the community in northwest Ohio,” Zerbey said.

Among her numerous goals for her presidency, Zerbey said Gaber’s most important focus will be on students.

“That’s all that matters in my judgment,” Zerbey said. “That’s what we’re here for, that’s our treasure.”

During the press conference, Zerbey highlighted some of Gaber’s accomplishments in her position as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas. While Gaber was in her position, the University of Arkansas experienced a 40 percent increase in enrollment over a six-year period and a 6 percent increase in the six-year graduation rate.

Gaber also pushed for an increase in research funding, which resulted in a designation of her university as a high research school by the Carnegie Foundation. She also instituted a maternity leave policy, expanded the school’s online learning programs and participated in a 1 billion dollar capital campaign.