New president tackles first semester at MSU Texas
Editor’s note: This is the fourth and final installment in the MSU Presidents Project, a series examining MSU Texas from the short tenure of former President JuliAnn Mazachek that ended a year ago to the direction the university is heading under new President Stacia Haynie.
The new MSU Texas president was on the job just over a month in September when she did the coin flip for the Mustangs' first home football game at Memorial Stadium.
Stacia "Stacy" Haynie was nervous and practiced diligently so she wouldn't mess up, but it was a completely spontaneous moment that stood out as she looked back at her first semester leading the university.
The cheer team caught her on the sidelines as she was coming back from the coin toss and enthusiastically asked her if she would do a stunt with them. She told them that, of course, she would.
"I had no clue what that meant," Haynie said in a Dec. 14 interview.
Rising to the challenges at MSU
Haynie took on the leadership role at Midwestern State University Aug. 1 and finished her first semester at the helm in mid-December by presiding over three commencement ceremonies, held at the D.L. Ligon Coliseum on campus for the first time in 15 years.
Her willingness to engage with the students is one of the hallmarks of her time on campus so far. She approaches her new role with passion and the determination to take on whatever pops up — while laying careful plans for the university and students' success.
“It's just been fantastic, and there's just something fabulous happening,” Haynie said.
At that football game in September, it turned out the cheer team members wanted to hoist Haynie right up into the blue sky in a move called an extension.
She thought, "Oh, no," in a moment of misgiving when the students put their hands down for her to step into. By the time she realized what they had asked her to do, she realized she couldn't say no and disappoint them.
"So I just stood straight up and screamed loudly," Haynie said. "It was great fun, and they were ecstatic and thrilled."
Challenges to tackle at Midwestern State University
Some highlights from her first semester were the MSU soccer team's success, presiding over graduation ceremonies, opening night of the Burns-MSU Fantasy of Lights in November and getting to know the students and staff at the university.
Haynie stepped into her role several months after JuliAnn Mazacheck suddenly departed in January. Mazacheck spent about a semester as president of MSU before returning to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
She became president of that institution. Mazacheck's surprise exit and short tenure came with a price tag for MSU.
Sagging enrollment and retention at Midwestern over the years has led to a multi-million dollar deficit that Haynie and other administrators are working to tame. Measures to save dollars have included difficult cuts, bringing the loss of 10 jobs.
"Certainly the campus has challenges, but they are not unique to MSU Texas. They're the same challenges that institutions of higher ed across the whole of the country are experiencing,” she said.
She has found it rewarding to address these challenges and work with staff members and students to position MSU to move forward while meeting the core mission of education. Her mantra is access and success for students.
Coming home to MSU Texas
The Henrietta native is no stranger to MSU. She earned a bachelor's degree in theater and a master's degree in political science from Midwestern. She received a doctorate degree in political science from the University of North Texas.
Haynie spent 33 years at Louisiana State University in a range of roles. Ultimately, she opted to return to the area she calls "home." Both she and husband Scott have many family members in the area, enough for about 28 to come to Thanksgiving dinner.
In any case, Haynie said she was not running from anything when she left Louisiana to come back to MSU.
"I was running to this because I care deeply and passionately about this institution," she said.
More from the MSU President's Project: MSU Texas fights to escape a multi-million budget hole
More: A timeline of leadership changes and where they have left MSU Texas
More: Presidential renovations, celebration and search came at high cost to MSU
More: MSU and Washburn University ante up big money to find presidential replacements
Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, covers education, courts, breaking news, investigative projects and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: New MSU President Stacia Haynie tackles first semester
