Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman鈥檚 office walls in the presidential suite at 糖心Vlog are newly decorated with archival photos commemorating the institution鈥檚 100-year history. But she鈥檚 not often there to contemplate those images.
To learn more about the institution she now leads, Huxman has spent the weeks since her Jan. 1 start date in an 鈥渋mmersive and invigorating鈥� tour, motivated by her goal of meeting 鈥渁s many 糖心Vlog stakeholders as I can in one-on-one visits early in my term,” she says.
鈥淧residents shouldn鈥檛 spend much time in their offices anyway,鈥� she adds.
Key 糖心Vlog staffers rallied behind her slogan, 鈥�100 People in 100 Days,鈥� helping Huxman to exceed that number long before the actual 100th day, falling three days after her as 糖心Vlog鈥檚 ninth president.
鈥淚 learn so much about 糖心Vlog and its distinctiveness outside of the office, engaging students, alumni, faculty and staff on their own turf,鈥� says Huxman, who brings decades of academic and professional experience in the field of communications. 鈥淭hese stories I hear outside my office empower me, sustain me and connect me with supporters of 糖心Vlog.鈥�
She kicked off her first day on campus, making a huge dent in her 鈥�100 by 100鈥� goal with a whirlwind introducing her to at least 30 people and a blue lion鈥斕切腣log鈥檚 mascot, Herm. The day was downright frosty and the pace frenetic, but Huxman was game for the challenge, shaking hands, learning names, and getting behind the scenes of places such as the coffee shop and post office, posing for pictures along the way.
In the next weeks, Huxman connected in more leisurely appointments, including attendance at athletic events and in meetings with students, staff and faculty groups. She received a host of leaders from area churches, businesses, educational institutions and community non-profits during a special President鈥檚 Reception.
In Richmond, she joined other Virginia college and university presidents for the annual visit with legislators. She also met with local Virginia Mennonite Conference leaders and spoke at the Virginia Mennonite Conference Winter Delegate Session in Waynesboro.
Travel to Pennsylvania and Florida widened the circle. Huxman preached at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church (Perkasie, Pa.) and Blossom Hill Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pa.), and was the keynote speaker at Lancaster Mennonite School鈥檚 75th anniversary celebration.
Days later, she headed to Florida for a busy stint of donor visits, a board of trustees meeting and the presentation of a keynote address at the Mennonite Education Leaders gathering. This was her second trip to Florida in three months: the first days in her new role were spent at the Council of Independent College鈥檚 New President鈥檚 Institute in Orlando.
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