CityView Magazine

Discover CityViewNC.com's fresh updated look! | 51 e university still has a traditional schedule that's embraced by younger students, who live on or near campus, and by students like those in the nursing program who have hands-on classes. Anderson said the mix of online and bricks- and-mortar offerings works well for Fayetteville State. "ere are some schools who will almost always be first-time freshmen who come and stay four years because that's what their model is built on," he said. "at model would not work for us." Under Anderson, Fayetteville State also has increased its emphasis and offerings in STEM areas – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. e school's proximity to Fort Bragg and its large number of military-connected students have helped it leverage partnerships with programs like the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and create academic programs, such as its Center for Defense and Homeland Security, that focus on in-demand job fields and that capitalize on the skills already held by many students. e school also has new relationships with national laboratories where students can do internships. It has a new focus on research and several professors have received patents on technologies, including one for a device that would allow your cell phone to charge just from your body heat. "Imagine!" Anderson said. A chancellor's job is never done and Anderson's is no different. He said his current goals include making plans to replace the school's education building, which he said is deteriorating. "It's the last building I want to build," said Anderson, who's 68 and figures he will retire in about three years. e project wouldn't nearly be complete by then but he wants to make sure its funding is in place before he leaves. Funeral Service & crematory 910.484.8108 610 Ramsey Street H ank S tew art He also plans to make sure the university has the right leadership in place in its administration, faculty and department chairs. at way, he said, "when I leave, they can continue to build on what we've started," he said. "So it doesn't crumble." He also wants to make stronger connections between the school and the city and said the university needs to do a better job of engaging with the community. "As a university, we should have some initiatives and they should be very visible and very public," Anderson said. He said he was unable to focus on that in his first years at the university because he had to take care of so many fundamental structural things that weren't in place. "When I got here, the back of the Titanic was underwater," he said. "It took a few years to get it up straight and another few years to get propulsion. Now we have great speed going." Now, he said, he can focus on community engagement and improving economic development along Murchison Road and nearby Bragg Boulevard. It's not just in Fayetteville State's best interests, he said. It's in the broader community's, too. eir fortunes are intertwined and the two entities should work together, not separately. "eir success helps us," Anderson said. "And our success helps them." Under Anderson, Fayetteville State also has increased its emphasis and offerings in STEM areas – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

• Cover