Stephen Charles Ainlay, vice president for academic affairs and professor of sociology and anthropology at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., has been named the 18th president of Union College, it was announced Tuesday by Stephen J. Ciesinski '70, chair of the Board of Trustees.
Ainlay is a sociologist with a distinguished record as a teacher, scholar and administrator. He has been a professor at Holy Cross since 1982 and a dean since 1996.
Selected after an extensive national search, Ainlay is to assume the presidency in June 2006. He succeeds Roger Hull, who served 15 years before stepping down last June. James Underwood, professor emeritus of political science, is serving as interim president.
“Stephen Ainlay is a highly respected academic leader who has the credentials and experience to bring Union College to a new level of excellence,” said Ciesinski. “Throughout his remarkable career, he has demonstrated that he shares both our strong commitment to the traditional liberal arts and our passion for innovation.”
He noted that Ainlay “is uniquely qualified to lead this College as it becomes a progressive pioneer through initiatives such as the Minerva houses, converging technologies and undergraduate research.”
Ciesinski commended Trustee Frank Messa '73 and the other members of the Presidential Search Committee “for a job well done.”
Stephen was the unanimous first choice among a stellar list of candidates who were attracted to Union College,” said Messa. “Through his vast experience as an academic and administrator and his respect for Union's commitment to excellence in higher education, he impressed the members of the committee as the ideal person to become Union's 18th president.”
For the second straight week, the Union football team had the opponent's number in the final minute. In front of a Homecoming crowd of over 1,500, the Dutchmen improved to 7-0 and 4-0 in the Liberty League with a 7-0 victory over the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Sophomore safety Alex Markel (Miami, FL/Ransom Everglades) returned an interception 76 yards with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Union to the 7-0 victory. The Dutchmen are off to their best start since a 7-0 mark in 1996.
Union held the Bears to eight first downs and 157 total yards, including 62 rushing and 95 passing. The Dutchmen also did not allow a third down conversion for the second straight week, as Coast Guard was 0 for 15 in that category. Opponents are now 0 for 29 in that category over the past two weeks. The Dutchmen also forced six turnovers, including five interceptions.
Markel enjoyed the number three as well. He received the Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Week, the ECAC Division III Northwest Player of the Week, and was named to the D3football.com National Team of the Week.
“Alex has been playing well for us,” said Head Coach John Audino. He is very steady. He has a nose for the football and probably would be a starter for us if not for a veteran group back there.
“His play on the interception was amazing, and quite a boost for our program. He will continue to be our nickel and dime player in pass defense situations.”
The Dutchmen cashed in on this victory as they moved into the AFCA (coaches) poll, with a #23 ranking. Union is ranked #18 in the Football Gazette poll. The Dutchmen have their final regular season road game on tap Saturday at St. Lawrence at 1 p.m.
After an idle week, the men's and women's cross country teams returned to the races at the Saratoga Invitational. The men finished 12th in the event, led by Victor Guaiquil (Astoria, NY/Stuyvesant), who ran faster then nearly 50 other competitors with a time of 28:47.60. Patricio Guaiquil (Long Island City, NY/Brooklyn Tech) came in three spots later at 28:57.80. The women placed 10th in the meet, as Liz Nyberg (Old Lyme, CT/Old Lyme) came in 54th out of 125 competitors with a time of 20:12.50. Five spots later, Jane Wolkowicz (Mendota Heights, MN) clocked in at 20:26.80. Next up for the squads will be the NYSCTC Championships at Hamilton on Sat., November 5.
The men's soccer team clinched the Liberty League regular season championship with a perfect 7-0 league record, and the 13-2-1 Dutchmen will host the tournament next week. Union will face #4 seed Skidmore on Fri., November 4 at 4 p.m., following the 1:30 p.m. game between #2 St. Lawrence and #3 Hamilton at College Park Field. Prior to that, Union closes out the regular season with games at Utica Wednesday and home against Nazareth Saturday (3 p.m.).
Casey Ftorek
The Dutchmen, ranked third in the region, also went trolling through the national polls. Union is #22 in the NSCAA./adidas national ranking entering this week. Keeping on that number “3” theme, Casey Ftorek (Bedford, MA/Taft School) won his third Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week award, and second straight, with another super showing. Ftorek scored two goals, including a game-winner, and had three assists in a pair of Liberty League wins for the Dutchmen. In Union's 6-0 win over Clarkson, he had one goal and assisted on three others. He scored the game-winning goal in the 71st minute to lift Union over St. Lawrence, 1-0, and help the Dutchmen clinch the league's regular season title. Ftorek is second in the league in goals with 11 and points with 28.
“Casey was very focused this weekend, and you could see it before the St. Lawrence game how important sweeping the league was to him,” said Head Coach Jeff Guinn. “His post goal celebration was magical, and really seemed to energize his teammates, and energize the crowd even more.”
Rob Kramer
Goalkeeper Rob Kramer (Westport, CT/Staples) has had a fine freshman season in the nets, and he was rewarded with the Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week award. Kramer increased his win total to 10 games with a pair of victories in league play. He posted six combined saves. In the 6-0 win against Clarkson, Kramer made one save in 36:42 of work as he split time with two other keepers to combine for the shutout. He stopped five shots in a 1-0 win over St. Lawrence, including a point-blank stop in the 19th minute to preserve a scoreless tie. Kramer went the distance in net in this game to earn his second shutout of the season. He also assisted on the game-winning goal against the Saints. Kramer has not allowed a goal in 164:25 worth of work, and has a 0.82 GAA on the year that leads the league.
“Rob Kramer had an excellent weekend. He has really been solid all season in the goal, and has come out with the types of saves that win you games,” said Guinn. “He had a couple great saves in the first half vs. St. Lawrence when momentum had switched their way.”
The women's volleyball squad will be idle this weekend, but will be back in action Tuesday night when Oneonta comes to town for a 6 p.m. match. Union finished second in the Skidmore Invitational, led by a steady senior and a fabulous freshman. Setter Suzy Barbaritz (Clarence, NY/Clarence) was named to the All-Tournament team, helping to lead Union to a second place finish. She had 33 assists and 11 digs with three services aces in a five-game win vs. St. Michael's Friday. Saturday, she posted 37 assists and eight digs with two aces in a three-game sweep vs. CCNY. In the final match of the weekend, Barbaritz had 31 assists and two digs with two block assists vs. Skidmore. Middle hitter Erin Schumaker (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) was also named to the all-tournament team. She had 10 kills, two solo blocks and two block assists in the vs. St. Michael's Friday. Saturday, she posted a team-high 14 kills with a solo block and two block assists in the sweep over CCNY and had eight kills and three block assists vs. Skidmore. After Tuesday, the Liberty League Championships will take place at St. Lawrence, November 4-5.
Elise Wakeland
The other fall teams that clinched Liberty League tourney spots, joining the men's soccer team, were the field hockey and women's soccer squads. The field hockey team took the fourth and final slot with a 4-1 victory over Vassar on Saturday at home. Coach Lacey French has improved the program in each of her three seasons, from three to six to nine victories. Union will play at #1 William Smith at 11 a.m. on Fri., November 4 in the Liberty League semifinals, and if necessary the championship on Sat., November 5 at 2 p.m.
Elise Wakeland
Goalkeeper Elise Wakeland (Arundel, ME/Kennebunk) copped the Liberty League's Defensive Performer of the Week award, her second honor of the month. Wakeland made six saves in a 1-0 shutout win over Hartwick, her second shutout win of the year. She made five stops in a 2-1 loss to RPI, and made five saves and allowed just one goal in the big 4-1 win over Vassar. Wakeland has a 2.71 goals against average.
“Elise has been so instrumental for us, especially down the stretch in our run to the tournament,” said Head Coach Lacey French. “The players are excited about the tournament and this is a good reward for their efforts.”
Union (9-8) will host Oneonta on Thursday to close out the regular season, looking for Win #10 of the 2005 season.
The women's soccer team won three Liberty League weekly awards for the seconds straight week, and plays at Nazareth Friday and St. John Fisher Saturday before opening league tournament play next weekend. Union is 13-1-2 and went 6-0-1 in the league. Erika Eisenhut (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) had an explosive offensive week with a combined five goals and three assists in helping Union to a pair of league triumphs. Game one saw the senior turn in a four-goal, and one assist effort in a 9-0 win over Clarkson. Eisenhut assisted on the game-winning goal and scored the second goal of the game. She then led the Dutchwomen with the first three goals of the second half, all within a three minute span. She followed that up with a goal and two assists in Union's 5-0 win over St. Lawrence. The league's Co-Offensive Performer assisted on the game-winner. She is tied for third in the league with 28 points and is fifth with eight goals.
Goalkeeper Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) was the Liberty League Co-Defensive Player, as she upped her win total to 12 this past weekend. She combined for five saves and two shutouts in 155:28 of work. She made two saves in the win over Clarkson in 76:11 in goal and followed that up with three saves against St. Lawrence. Gawronski has four shutouts on the season and has combined for four others. Five of those shutouts have come in the last five games. Gawronski has not allowed a goal in 525:32 of play and has an 0.59 GAA.
The Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week, Ashley Brown (Plainville, CT/Suffield Academy) scored two goals and added an assist in the win over Clarkson. She is first on the team among freshman with eight goals and 18 points. Brown is second in the league among freshman in points and goals.
“Erika has taken her game to a higher level. She has a wonderful way of making players around her better,” said Head Coach Brian Speck. “Julie and our backs have done a wonderful job working together, especially considering an injury to a starting back prior to the William Smith game. Ashley would start at many of the schools we competed against. She had done a great job at the fourth forward spot and will be our center forward for years to come.”
While one fall team's season has come to an end (women's tennis), a pair of winter teams will open up their campaigns this Saturday. The Union men's swimming and diving and women's swimming and diving teams host the Union relays at 1 p.m.
Stephen C. Ainlay, a College of the Holy Cross administrator and professor of sociology and anthropology, has been chosen as the 18th president of Union College.
In making the announcement, college officials said they sought a leader to raise the academic reputation of the 210-year-old institution.
“We went out and we tried to find, deliberately tried to find, someone who had a stellar academic background, with one of our objectives being to enhance the academic reputation of the school,” said Frank Messa, a Union alumnus and chairman of the presidential search committee.
Messa said the committee also sought a candidate with strong credentials as an administrator, an ability to “connect with all of the different constituents on campus,” and the leadership to take the school through the second half of its $200 million “You Are Union” capital campaign.
The 12-member committee was created in January, after then president Roger Hull announced his retirement. The committee and a professional search firm considered a field of 60 applicants.
The choice of Ainlay was unanimous, Messa said.
“When I say it was unanimous, every faculty member, students, senior administrators, every single person who interviewed him selected him as a top choice,” Messa said. “This was done by acclamation.”
In a telephone interview, Ainlay said his academic credentials and connections – he is vice chair of the American Conference of Academic Deans – put him in a position to influence Union's reputation within the academic world.
“I've been active in a number of other conversations about higher education and what it's trying to do in the modern era. I think that's the kind of person they need to advance the reputation of their school,” Ainlay said. “I am connected and I plan to keep connected. Union is doing so many things, it's going to be fun to tell that story.”
Ainlay will finish his term as vice president for academic affairs at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and is expected to take office by summer.
According to a statement from Union, Ainlay, 54, joined Holy Cross in 1982 as assistant professor of sociology . He was promoted to full professor in 1993. He holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from Goshen College and a master's and Ph.D. from Rutgers University.
Ainlay is married to Judith Gardner. The couple have two boys, Jesse, a 2005 graduate of Holy Cross, and Jonathon, a student at the University of Arizona.
According to the statement, Ainlay's scholarly projects have ranged from investigations of blindness, aging, spirituality and various aspects of Mennonite life, all aimed at better understanding the ways in which people find meaning in their lives. His first book, “Day Brought Back My Night,” explores how people who experience blindness later in life make sense of the disruptions in their physical and social worlds.
Ainlay presents a contrast to Hull, who came to Union from the presidency of Beloit College and brought experience not only as a college administrator, but also a professional background as an attorney and a genius for fund raising. During his tenure, the endowment per student at Union nearly tripled.
Messa said he expects a different focus to emerge under Ainlay.
“I admire Roger Hull, I consider him to be the best president we've had in the last generation at Union. Stephen Ainlay brings a different background than Roger did,” Messa said.
“The general feeling of the school is that we are frustrated that we're not recognized as highly as we think we should be in the area of academic reputation,” Messa said. “Our ranking in the area of academic reputation we do not think reflects the quality of the institution and we are very much focused on that.”
Messa said many of the applicants, like Ainlay, were chief academic officers of their institutions. Ainlay presented the right credentials and the right fit for Union, Messa said.
“This is a little bit of science and a little bit of art,” Messa said about the search. “Each college has its own unique culture, social structure that sets it apart, and what you're looking for is someone who just feels right.”
Ainlay, a former director of the Holy Cross center for interdisciplinary studies, said he was impressed with Union's commitment to interdisciplinary learning.
“The thing that immediately struck me is it's an institution that has a desire to offer an unsurpassed liberal arts education and it does it in a distinct way,” Ainlay said. “That very much appealed to me.”
Ainlay cited the college's “five pillars” of education – undergraduate research, study abroad, community service, converging technology, and the Minerva House system – as the expression of that commitment.
“Whether you're talking about any one or another of those pillars, they're all things that I believe in, they're all things that I find important,” Ainlay said. “The name Union captures what they're trying to do, they're trying to provide integration . . . I think that's something that I can help them with.”
SCHENECTADY — Union College has tapped a College of the Holy Cross veteran administrator and professor to be its 18th president.
Stephen C. Ainlay, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the Worcester, Mass., college will take the reins at Union in June.
Ainlay will succeed Roger Hull, who served 15 years as president before stepping down in the spring. James Underwood, professor emeritus of political science, has been interim president.
Ainlay, 54, has been at Holy Cross since 1982, when he arrived as an assistant professor of sociology. He has spent essentially his entire academic career there.
“I've reached a point in my career where I felt I had something yet to offer by way of presidential leadership,” Ainlay said late Tuesday afternoon.
Union — with initiatives such as the Minerva house system, where students and faculty interact, and its Converging Technologies program, which involves mixing engineering and the liberal arts — felt like a good fit, tying closely into his own research interests, he said.
It felt like a good fit to the school, too.
“It was literally a unanimous choice,” said Frank Messa, a Union trustee and chairman of the presidential search committee.
While the names of the three finalists were never disclosed, some of those who met Ainlay during the search process hailed his selection.
“I asked him what it means to him to be an academic leader,” said Therese McCarty, Union's interim dean of faculty. “He said he wants to be an intellectual presence on campus. He wants to show students what it means to be academically alive and excited by doing that himself.”
Ainlay arrived at Holy Cross in 1982 as an assistant professor of sociology. His research explores how people find meaning in their lives, a theme explored in several books and publications. His last book, “Mennonite Entrepreneurs,” looks at how members of that community assess their success in a community that does not approve of material gains.
“The fundamental question I'm interested in is how people make sense of it all,” Ainlay said.
Ainlay declined to disclose his salary at Union. While he will not start work until next year, he said he expects to start meeting people on campus soon. “The first thing I'm going to do, which I think any president ought to do, is become the anthropologist,” he said.
Landing an academic was a paramount desire, Messa said, and boosting the campus' academic reputation will be one of Ainlay's biggest tasks.
“We feel we are not adequately viewed by the rest of the world for our academic excellence,” Messa said. “We very much feel that we are a better academic institution than we are recognized as being.”
The Rev. Michael C. McFarland, Holy Cross' president, said Ainlay helped bolster that institution's reputation.
“He understands and he's passionately committed to liberal arts education,” McFarland said. “He's a first-rate academic himself. He's been a great leader of the faculty and an advocate for our strength in academics.”
Steve Ciesinski, chairman of Union's board of trustees, said Roger Hull had a lot of strengths — but that being tapped into a national network of academics wasn't one of them.
“All of our final candidates were chief academic officers,” he said. Ainlay, besides holding the top academic job at Holy Cross, is also involved with several professional groups, such as the American Conference of Academic Deans, officials said.
Ciesinski, who spent time with Ainlay in Worcester, said one of the things that impressed him was that Ainlay was an “excellent listener” who was able to pay close attention to people.
“He's a good thinker and he thinks about the larger picture, and he thinks about how smaller things should or should not fit into the larger picture,” he said.
An announcement of a new president for Union College is “imminent,” according to a source within the college.
The college is expected to make an announcement as early as today. College trustees met over the weekend to discuss the credentials of three finalists, the latest step in a search that began with the January retirement of longtime President Roger Hull.
Union created a 12-member committee to lead the presidential search and in March hired a professional search firm, Academic Search Consultation Service, according to its Web site.
The committee narrowed an initial field of 60 applicants to eight by late August, and began interviews in September. In late September, three finalists were chosen, each of whom was invited to the campus for a two-day series of meetings, interviews, and social events in early October, the Web site says.
Frank Messa, chairman of the committee, has listed regular updates of the committee's activities on the Web, but no list of candidate names has been made available.
Hull, who retired after 15 years as president of Union, was heavily engaged in the fortunes of the city outside of the college boundary.
He was a leader in the creation of the Metroplex Development Authority, which uses a portion of the county sales tax to fund economic revitalization, and he helped channel college resources toward improvement of the neighborhood west of the college by developing a package of Union-funded initiatives, including buying and renovating 20 homes along Seward Place.
During his tenure, the college thrived. Applications for admissions rose 50 percent. The endowment per student nearly tripled, and nearly 60 percent of freshmen at the college were within the top 10 percent of their high school classes.
Hull encouraged study abroad, and in 2001 nearly 70 percent of Union students took part in some study outside national borders during their college careers.
The college also landed the largest gift in its history, $20 million donated by John and Jane Wold, in 2002.
Last year the college launched its new Minerva House system, grouping students in “houses” with encouragement to organize academic and social events.
