First candidate for president takes URI tour

04/22/09 - Sona Andrews is one of the there candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant office of president at the University of Rhode Island. Andrews, the first of the candidates to visit URI, is currently serving as the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Boise State University in Idaho."My experience here along with that of other institutions has given me a real good sense of how a public institution can really create a great learning environment for students," she said.

Andrew's has traveled all over the world during her academic career, but if chosen to be president of URI, it will be more of a homecoming than a move.

Andrews was born in Providence, and when she was 6 years old, her family moved to Millis, Mass., a small town located near the border of Rhode Island. Eventually, her parents decided to move back to the smallest state.

"My parents moved back to Jamestown, R.I., about 25 years ago, so when I go home, I go to Jamestown," Andrews said.

Andrews went to Nichan Palanjian Armenia College Beirut, Lebanon, for her first year of college in 1971 to 1972, and then went to Worcester State College in Massachusetts to earn her bachelor's degree in geography. She then completed her master's and Ph.D in geography in 1981.

"I always had an interest in cartography," Andrews said. "My seventh grade geography teacher Mr. Harty was the one who made me realize that there was such a profession as cartography. It was that time in seventh grade that I decided I wanted to be a mapmaker and pursue a degree in geography."

Andrews said if she is elected, she will focus more on interdisciplinary programming and modernization of curriculums.

"I haven't really had a chance to talk to a lot people on campus, but clearly I think there are lots of opportunities for interdisciplinary programs," she said. "One of the things I heard when I was on campus for my interview last week made it clear that the president can do a good job of removing some of the barriers that get in the way of interdisciplinary studies. The world is changing all the time and our academic programs need to change with it."

She added that if chosen as president, she would attempt to merge and eliminate programs to make the curriculum more relevant to the modern world.

"I think that's the continual evolution of what goes on at an academic institution," Andrews said.

Andrews said her Rhode Island background gives her a local perspective on URI and how the state functions.

"I think I have a tremendous amount of energy, which I think is something that is needed at the university at this time," she said. "I have a real good understanding of how to link action with planning in budget decisions."

Andrews said she is aware of the dry campus policy at URI, and that while she is open to changes, she said she does not feel she is informed enough on the issue.

"This is one of those situations that I don't have a good understanding of all of the viewpoints of all the constituents," she said. "I think every situation needs to be re-examined. This is a different day and time than maybe 10 years ago. I wouldn't be opposed to opening up that conversation, but I don't have an opinion on whether URI should be a wet or dry campus.