'Make me proud'
President Davies looks back on tenure, looks forward to next steps
Central Michigan University President Bob Davies speaks with a child on stage during the introduction of Indian Night on Saturday, April 20 in Finch Fieldhouse. Davies was invited to help light the Diya before the event began, which is a tradition in Indian culture symbolizing knowledge and hope. (CM-Life | Ella Miller)
As announced by the Board of Trustees in their meeting at the end of September, Neil MacKinnon will be taking over as the president of Central Michigan University on Nov. 1.
As MacKinnon prepares to step into the role, current President Bob Davies said he’s appreciating his “lasts” as president– from Academic Senate meetings to football games.
Central Michigan Life sat down with Davies to reflect on his six-and-a-half years in office. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
CM Life: How is this semester different from previous ones for you?
Davies: From the get-go it’s been different. Lot of ‘last time you’re going to do this, last time you’re going to do that, last time you’re going to be in these various positions.’ And so it has been emotional from that perspective. I am a fairly sentimental type of person…As the University President, it’s the last time addressing classes… coming up soon will be my last academic senate meeting. But that’s part of the cycle, you know? And so you just go through it.
(I’ve) always said, you treasure the moments when they’re the firsts, you treasure the moments when you’re doing it... because sometimes you don’t know when it’s going to be the last one.
What happens after Nov. 1 for you?
I take a deep breath. I think that’s what it’s going to be. I think my wife and I are going to escape a little bit, we’re gonna vote first… and I encourage everybody to vote. But then we’re going to escape and just take a deep breath for about 10 to 15 days, then we’ll come back and participate in some community events and activities and just kind of go from there.
I’ve pledged and will continue to do this: working with Dr. MacKinnon in his transition and be there to support and to offer ways to look at things. I’m not going to make decisions or even opine on decisions, but just (provide) a way to look at various aspects and provide some historical context if need be.
I’ve been selected, asked to join a national firm to help other university presidents transition at universities across the country. So I’ll start doing some of those discussions and processes with them from a different vantage point.
Before you know it, I’ll be teaching a leadership class in the College of Business. And actually, there’s a leadership class that they’ve always wanted to teach, and it’s 'the university president and leadership from the executive suites,' and I’ll be teaching that class in the higher education program
Over your tenure here, do you have some things you’re particularly proud of?
Six and a half years ago, when we moved here, getting our arms around the enrollment crisis and understanding the significant changes that needed to occur... but even during the COVID time frame, we were able to continue to narrow that gap and make the progress needed. So I think that’s a major accomplishment.
...The financial structure of the university has always been strong, and over a period of time, we made it stronger. We have clarified and made the budget process a lot more transparent than it was before. We’ve made a shift in the overall budget model that I think is extremely helpful for the institution to move forward.
… Another thing was (getting) the fundraising up in arms. They were just coming off a capital campaign, so there was good momentum, and we were able to bolster that with what we did this last year, which was the highest number of philanthropic gifts the institution… has ever received.
Our president’s cabinet is a really strong team right now. When I started... it was a very homogeneous cabinet when you looked at it. And now it’s very diverse, heterogeneous cabinet with people coming from a lot of different backgrounds and ideas and thoughts, and they just really work very well together. That’s something that I’m pretty proud of.
I guess also I’m proud of my relationship with students. I mean to me, that’s just a lot of fun walking across campus and talking to students... Lots of great memories.
After all of that, what do you see as your legacy as the 15th president of Central Michigan?
...George Ross when he took over CMU, he built on it, made it better than it was. Mike Rao before George, made the university better than it was before he started.
Hopefully that’s also my legacy, that the university is in a much better place now for Dr. MacKinnon to come in and do his magic and stay here as long as we need him. He’ll take it from where it is now and make it a better university.
Do you have any hopes for us, for what happens at CMU next?
It’s staying true to who we are. ...We don’t have to be the biggest. We just have to be the best at what we do. We can’t lose that.
We serve students who care, who work hard, who are going to roll up their sleeves. We’re not an elite institution, but we are an amazing institution that educates and builds a better future for our students and their families and communities.
…My legacy is defined by the success of our students and our alumni.
Is there anything else you want to say to students?
What I would say to students is, you all make me proud. Continue to make me proud. When you see me walking across the street five years from now, 10 years from now, 15 years from now, say hi, and tell me how you’re doing.
Two years, three years from now, students won’t remember me. Current students won’t, but alumni and former students, those conversations are very meaningful to me. I look forward to those interactions and seeing how far you go.
