by Naomi Harris, PublicSource
Raised in a small town in rural Michigan by parents who didn’t finish high school but highly valued education, Donald Green was taught that the way to gain opportunities was through earning a high-quality degree.
He went on to earn three degrees, including his Ph.D., and now he wants to help the next generation succeed through graduation and beyond as the new president of Point Park University.
Green previously led Georgia Highlands College in Rome, Ga., for seven years. In that role, he gained experience leading enrollment growth and retention, while working to improve the college’s financial condition and graduation rates for students of color, according to Point Park’s announcement.
Green, 57, hopes to bring that same passion to Pittsburgh to help students stay focused on graduation, despite the many challenges he anticipates his university will face.
“I am a huge believer in access to higher education. It is an absolute necessity because access provides opportunity,” Green said. “Opportunity provides transformation. We change not only lives but we change family trees.”
Before Green was announced as the new president in April, the university dealt with uproar from faculty and staff following an initial attempt to lay off 17 faculty members — some of whom were from marginalized backgrounds. The previous administration cited financial struggles due to the pandemic, a challenge facing many universities across the country, but the decision left many in a precarious position as they wondered about the future.
With new leadership, some faculty were hopeful for change.
In an interview with PublicSource, Green talked about his vision as president, financial obstacles, educating through the pandemic and his intentions behind diversifying the university. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Donald Green was named as Point Park University’s new president in April. (Photo by Quinn Glabicki/PublicSource)
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