La Voz de Seguin September 2011.pmd - La Voz Newspapers

La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011Page 7Dr. Suart DorseyLutheran UniversityRich). As I get older, I like to listento quieter “smooth” Jazz. My kidscall it elevator music.because of my previousexperience. I have a sense ofconfidence, tempered byunderstanding about what worksand what does not on collegecampus. I think I have aparticularly good grasp on theeconomic challenges facinghigher education.La Voz: What is the mostchallenging aspect of developingan endowment fund at a privateuniversity?“So we have to work harder atgetting Hispanic students toconsider us.”Dr. Dorsey: Absolutely the keychallenge is articulating anexciting vision for the university’sfuture. Without that, there is noreason for an individual to makea financial commitment. Youhave to give them an emotionalstake in bringing aboutsomething exciting andtransformational. When you canpaint that picture, askingsomeone for a seven-figure giftis not difficult- it’s fun.La Voz: While you have onlybeen here a short time, is it yoursense that the challenges ofgetting Hispanics enrolled incollege, the same as they wereor are in California?Hispanic students tendnot to think about small,private colleges, and ifthey do, they think thatthey would not fit in tothe campus cultureDr. Dorsey: I think they aresimilar. We had good success inCalifornia, but we had to workharder. Hispanic students tendnot to think about small, privatecolleges, and if they do, they thinkthat they would not fit in to thecampus culture. So we have towork harder at getting Hispanicstudents to consider us, but alsobe mindful that the normaladjustment process for afreshman student may be thatmuch harder. But we are verygood at this.TLU always had been aboutopening doors of opportunity,often for first-generationstudents, welcoming studentsfrom diverse backgrounds, andworking hard to give them thetools to succeed. There is afamily approach here thatresonates well with Hispanicstudents.La Voz: Again, I know you haveonly been here a short time, butwhat would you say are the topthree things you will be focusingyour attention during your firstyear here?Dr. Dorsey: First, raising thevisibility and awareness of TLU.Wonderful things happen here;lives are transformed, and yet wetend to be under the radarscreen. Fund-raising also will beimportant, as we have importantinvestments to make into ourcampus and programs. But mostimportantly, all of us at TLU willcontinue to focus on delivering agreat experience for ourstudents. Our primary goalalways must be to raise the valueof a TLU degree.La Voz: Let’s conclude thisinterview by asking you somedifferent kinds of questions.What is your favorite food?Redfield, S.D. is the“Pheasant Capital of theworld,” so we all had afreezer full of wildpheasant.Dr. Dorsey: Redfield, S.D. is the“Pheasant Capital of the world,”so we all had a freezer full of wildpheasant. I loved pheasantdinners as a child, and I wouldhave to say that it still is myfavorite.La Voz: What kind of music doyou like to listen to?Dr. Dorsey: Not very Texan I’mafraid. My parents had a danceband for years, so my taste runesto swing (Frank Sinatra),Dixieland (Pete Fountain), andcontemporary big band (BuddyLa Voz: Well, Dr. Dorsey, wewant to thank you for taking thetime to visit with us. We lookforward to working with you asyou take Texas LutheranUniversity to the next level.Dr. Dorsey. Thanks to La Voz forhaving me, and good luck to youand your readers.ABOUT TLUTexas Lutheran Universitystudents experience achallenging academicenvironment that sets a path forlifelong learning. Our studentsengage in high impacteducational experiences thatinclude civic engagement,aesthetic expression, criticalthinking, and a focus onintercultural and globalknowledge in a community thatwelcomes the interplay of faithand reason.Founded in 1891, TexasLutheran resides on 184 scenicacres in Seguin, Texas, near SanAntonio and Austin. A diversestudent body of approximately1,400 with classes averagingfewer than 20 students providesa sense of community and anenvironment where individualityand personal growth are asintegral to success as rigorousacademics.