USJ President Pamela Trotman Reid
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Q. You are coming up on your five-year mark as president. How do you feel?
REID: It’s been amazing and I feel fortunate to have the support to move the University forward and create an exciting future — and by that I mean the support of the Board of Trustees, the University and the greater Hartford community.
Q. What are the highlights of your tenure to date?
REID: Opening the School of Pharmacy is definitely one, along with expanding our campus into downtown Hartford. Also, the development of new programs like Autism that not only provide opportunities for students, but respond to needs in society, which is in keeping with the mission established by the Sisters of Mercy. I’m pleased with the growth of the graduate programs in general and our ability to maintain steady enrollment in the Women’s College.
"Share your story — tell others what Saint Joe’s has meant to you. Get involved in our efforts."
-President Pamela Trotman-Reid
Q. Now that we’ve become the University of Saint Joseph, what’s next?
REID: Next, we need to spread the message and tell the story of USJ in order to become regionally known. I’d like to see us regularly attract students from throughout the Northeast, not just New England. It seems like wherever I go someone tells me how much the University has meant to them, or how they prefer hiring our graduates, and I feel that those are the stories we need to tell. They are stories of personal and professional transformation. To our alumnae/i and readers of the magazine, I say, “Share your story — tell others what Saint Joe’s has meant to you. Get involved in our efforts.” We need to get our message out there.
Q. Are there any other significant projects on the horizon?
REID: Of course there’s always something! We are developing several different academic programs including doctoral programs — always with the mission in the forefront of our efforts. As far as bricks-and-mortar projects, we have a master plan, which includes upgrades to our facilities as well as some new buildings like residence halls and the Learning Pavilion. The Learning Pavilion will house The Gengras Center and the Institute for Autism and Behavioral Studies. It’s one example of how we’ve built upon an area of expertise. We are bringing together teacher education and the needs of special children, while responding to the current epidemic of Autism — and we do it through teaching, research, community service, and planning ways to better house and meet those needs.
