Candace Vancko describes herself as terrified.
But while SUNY Cobleskill's new president may be terrified, Dr. Vancko is also confident she can improve conditions at the college.
SUNY Central Administration announced last Wednesday that Dr. Vancko, president of SUNY Delhi for 12 years, would also be the officer in charge--or president--of SUNY Cobleskill at the same time.
Dr. Vancko addressed a packed house at Bouck Auditorium on the campus on Thursday and followed that with a T-J interview Friday.
Both times, she touched on the "terrified" theme, which translates to challenges ahead.
"Delhi picked me as their president," Dr. Vancko said. "Cobleskill didn't. SUNY's asking me to do something that's never been done before.
"This is an experiment, and I'm the experiment."
Significant among the challenges, she said, is rebuilding "the loss of trust between the administration and faculty and staff" that occurred under former President Don Zingale's leadership.
She planned to meet soon with the four vice presidents to begin rebuilding the trust and teamwork.
"I want to reassure them that their priorities are my priorities," Dr. Vancko said. "My job is to listen and learn."
She also described her job as increasing enrollment, because in the future, state funding for SUNY schools will be based largely on student population.
Dr. Vancko has a track record there.
When she went to Delhi in 1999, the school was "hemorrhaging enrollment," and Delhi's student body stood at 1,900. Now, it's 3,100, according to SUNY records.
"This will take time and trust," Dr. Vancko said, "but it's one of the opportunities for us to work together."
A factor affecting enrollment is the campus's appearance, and Dr. Vancko said she'd like to see it spruced up, which drew applause at Thursday's presentation.
Again, she has experience.
"When I came to Delhi, its appearance was pretty crummy," Dr. Vancko said. "I went around picking litter!
"This campus [Cobleskill] is far better than it appears."
She plans to be in Cobleskill two and a half or three days per week, maybe more at first. Dr. Vancko will appoint someone to be in charge in Cobleskill when she's in Delhi.
Asked about relations with the community, Dr. Vancko acknowledged that this will be yet another challenge.
She'll be in both places part-time but still has to spread herself pretty thin over two campuses and two communities.
Offering to give up some of her appearances at Delhi, Dr. Vancko added she must "figure out what the big things are in the community and focus on them."
She also called for patience and trust, praising the faculty and staff for doing well under difficult conditions.
"Cobleskill has to trust me, and I have to earn their trust," Dr. Vancko said. "Give me a chance. It's not going to happen over night.
"SUNY is confident I can move Cobleskill forward."