Dr. Virginia Schaefer Horvath, President of SUNY Fredonia, formerly served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Fredonia. She previously was at Kent State University as Professor of English, Dean of Academic and Student Services, and Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning. A recipient of Kent State’s Distinguished Teaching Award, she has academic specialties in medieval literature, British literature, children’s/young adult literature, and poetry.
 
Horvath earned a B.A. in English from the University of Buffalo and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Kent State University. She was a Visiting Professor at Shimane University (Japan). She served on the Provosts’ Steering Committee of the AASCU Red Balloon Project, a national initiative for reimagining undergraduate education. She is on the Boards of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Lake Erie Regional Health System of New York, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, and the Buffalo Seminary.
 
Stacey Hannon, Dr. Virginia Horvath, President SUNY Fredonia, and Rotary President Sharon Hamilton.
 
After listening intently to the business part of our meeting, Dr. Horvath complimented our club on it's dedication to Rotary International, she to has a strong commitment to international partnerships.  Earlier in life she  lived in Kenya, as a member of the white minority, which was a life changing experience.  She later moved her family to Japan where they were not only a minority but also illiterate as none of them spoke or read Japanese.
 
After hearing of our club's donation to international school children she suggested a documentary, A Small Act by April MacIntyre.  The documentary tells the story of Hilde Back, a Jewish refugee of the Holocaust.  Having no children, or other family, of her own she began giving a $15 monthly donation to a children's charity to sponsor a young Kenyan student, Chris Mburu.  Ms. Back's generosity paved the way for Mburu's journey from a poor village in Africa to becoming a human rights activist and Harvard graduate.  As an adult Mburu finds Back and she is astonished at what her small act has accomplished.  You can read more about this amazing story at asmallact.com.
 
Back in Chautauqua County higher education is changing.  Dr. Horvath elaborated on the four community focuses at SUNY Fredonia:
 
1) A Community of Learning - how can we teach our faculty new roles and techniques in learning.  Technology has changed not only how students learn but also how teachers teach.  A Community of Learning also strives to teach students the versatility of education.  By learning certain skills we can do many jobs and it is impractical to expect to step right into our chosen fields.
 
2) An Engaged Community - The University takes an active part in the community's vitality and economy through programs like th Incubator and Start Up NY.
 
3) A Sustainable Community - becoming aware of our relationship with resources and a shared sense of responsibility for sustaining the campus.  The is demonstrated by finding alternative sources of funding, partnerships with other organizations and groups, and relationships with donors.
 
4) A Global Community - all students will be affected by what they know of the world, be international students.
 
During the Q&A, after Dr. Horvath's presentation, she answered questions about enrollment, new technology, and the responsible use of social media.  As a footnote, Dr. Horvath is the first female President of SUNY Fredonia in 186 years.  (Editors note: It would seem that Rotary is a little ahead of the SUNY System in this regard.)  Because Dr. Horvath believes in the work of Rotary, both at home and internationally, she is making a gift to the Rotary Foundation.  Because we appreciate Dr. Horvath's presentation to our club (and her devotion to our community) the club is making a gift in her name to PolioPlus for the inoculation of children against Polio.