President Bradshaw left us with so much

- Andrea Jackley

President Wilson G. Bradshaw’s beaming face has been a fixture on Metropolitan State University’s Web site for years, accompanying his emboldening message to prospective students: "I invite you to explore the many ways in which this institution, in its fourth decade of creating educational opportunity for working adults and other traditionally underserved populations, can enrich your life and your future." But more than that, so much more, he has lived every word he dare utter about our educational institution, and brought it to ever-increasing levels of excellence.

President Bradshaw first took office at Metropolitan State in 2000, after serving as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, according to the Florida Gulf Coast University's Web site, http://www.fgcu.edu. His credentials are too numerous to mention, a fact which doesn't escape FGCU's chairman of the board of trustees, Scott Lutgert.

"Dr. Bradshaw has an extraordinary amount of energy. He has the emotional energy, the experience and the vision to lead this institution," Lutgert said. As students and the benefactors of Metropolitan State's incredibly numerous resources, this much we know.

I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Bradshaw, hopefully not for the last time, on his last evening as a Twin Cities resident. Through his words he conveyed, as always, infinite wisdom and positive energy - and this time, of course, a little remorse:

What were your most notable accomplishments at Metropolitan State - what are you most proud of?

Well, first of all, they're not "my" accomplishments. It's been because of the hard work of faculty and staff, who have almost always been pulling in the same direction. I've worked with a lot of great folks; and we have a wonderful student body. It's been great - we've had tremendous growth in the number of students and programs - mostly in the doctoral program, which we've admitted the first student to.

We have a heightened presence in Minneapolis, with Minneapolis Community and Technical College. We've partnered with other two-year schools and technical colleges. We have the character of an urban university. We have a beautiful new library—the only public and private library partnership [in the state]. We've brought a branch of the public library to one of the most diverse neighborhoods in St. Paul. The question is what can we do to enhance [the experience/project]?

What are your hopes for the future of Metropolitan State?

I leave the university with such great pride. And as I said at my [going-away dinner]: I made sure that when I left Metropolitan State it wasn't perfect. We've served over 20,000 students in the past seven or eight years, we have the lowest tuition of any [Twin Cities] four-year university...(mentioned budget, tuition, etc.)

What, in your opinion, does our campus need to work on?

Mostly, services to students. Courses, scheduling, registration, admissions… There's lots of commitment, but resources are dwindling. The resources are not where they need to be. If we're going to continue to grow, we need to be able to afford to continue to.

What are your hopes for the incoming president?

I'm just going to get out of his or her way! The institution's reputation is so solid, I'm sure it will attract a fine pool of candidates. I wish them well - [they're inheriting] a very solid foundation, and committed faculty and staff.

Are you excited to move back to Florida?

As you know [wow], it's been seven and a half years! But for my wife and I - it's "going home." I'm going back to the state's university system, which is where I received my bachelor's and master's [degrees]. My family is there; my wife's family is there. It's really a privilege to be able to do the capstone of my career while going home. I just hope it comes through!

What will you miss most about Metropolitan State?

Definitely the folks I worked with on a day-to-day basis... [But] I'll miss the students most; [and] the character of the institution, which is quite different from a traditional [university].

Do you have any final thoughts for Metropolitan State students?

I think we've covered that!