Right Person, Right Time

When Dr. Thelma Jane Bryan was interviewing for the position of chancellor of Fayetteville State University (FSU) several years ago, she looked down with horror, realizing that she was wearing a black jacket with an obviously navy skirt. Despite the fashion faux pas, she was offered the job. Bryan became chancellor of the second oldest institution in the University of North Carolina System. Her first concern is meeting the needs of students, and in her short tenure at FSU, a lot has been accomplished--the fall 2005 enrollment had a 12 percent increase over the previous year; the university offers more online classes, resulting in an increase in online enrollment; FSU notched a 14 percent enrollment increase at its off-campus sites; and the university has also focused more on dual enrollment through the state's community college system to mention a few. This article describes Bryan's leadership as chancellor and several milestones FSU has achieved since her arrival.