Washington, D.C., (May 7, 2008)—Sidney A. Ribeau, Ph.D., has been named President of Howard University, one of 48 private doctoral/research intensive universities in the United States, the University’s Board of Trustees announced today. He was the unanimous choice of the University’s Trustees. Dr. Ribeau becomes the 16th president of the nation’s premier historically black institution of higher learning.

Dr. Ribeau has been President of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, for 13 years. At the University he initiated a number of successful, innovative, values-based initiatives that provide students with an academic environment that develops culturally literate, technologically sophisticated, productive citizens.

During his tenure Dr. Ribeau upgraded Bowling Green’s communications and computing technology and encouraged collaboration with other institutions to increase operational and cost efficiencies. Under Dr. Ribeau's leadership, Bowling Green State University was recognized for its residential learning communities, values-based education and innovative graduate programs. Bowling Green offers programs in more than 270 academic and professional fields and maintains an enrollment of approximately 21,000 students.

Dr. Ribeau will assume leadership as Howard University’s 16th President on August 1, 2008.

www.howard.edu

Now that sounds like a good hire! Congratulations.

Congratulations Bison.



Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau

More on the new prez.

May, 12, 2008

President Ribeau Lauded by Bowling Green Students

By Shivonne Foster, Hilltop .

Dr. Sidney Ribeau speaks to a crowd of Howard students, faculty and staff for the first time.


Nominated unanimously by the Presidential Search Committee, Bowling Green State University's first black president Sidney Ribeau, will transition into a new phase of his career as he assumes the position of 16th president of Howard University on August 1.

Students, faculty and staff were given the opportunity to meet Ribeau and field questions to him at Thursday's introduction program held on the campus's Blackburn Center.

Accompanied by his wife, Paula, who has a doctoral degree in education, and daughter Taylor, Ribeau said, "We are happy with this opportunity. We are happy with this mode of confidence in us. The future has endless opportunity."

He acknowledged that with every new president to a university, changes are ushered in and that his presidential lead will be different from President Swygert's, as will his successor's at Bowling Green.

"Times are different, challenges are different. You need a president for the time," Ribeau said.

Many students are eager to work with the new president and see what changes are implemented.

Howard University Student Association 2008-2009 president, Nicholas Owen, said he plans to work closely with the Ribeau and focus on university issues such as campus-wide wireless Internet, increased student input for decisions and "cleaning up" organizational structure.

"I want us to advocate for students and focus on the issues that the university needs to address," Owen said.

Addison Barry Rand, chairman of the board of trustees, said Ribeau has show a commitment to excellence throughout his career and understands the educational arena.

"He has a solid record for effective fundraising, understands the academy and has experience from all levels," he said.

Under Ribeau's 13-year lead, Ohio-based Bowling Green was able to reach its $120 million national campaign goal in April--over a year early. The campaign boasts a standing total of $30.7 million and seeks to reach out to a range of areas including endowed faculty chairs and an entrepreneurship program.

According to Rand, the environment of Bowling Green, which has about 21,000 enrolled students, is "something that feels like a family."

In this collegiate setting, Ribeau led the initiative to upgrade Bowling Green's

communication, compute technology and was recognized for its learning communities, values-based education and graduate programs.
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Under his lead, The President's Leadership Academy that began in 1997 allows some students from different ethnic and economic backgrounds to garner skills through mentoring and co-curricular programs.

Ribeau said he would like to implement and maintain a similar program at Howard, reaching out to students who possess leadership potential.

"By just looking at test scores and grade point averages I wouldn't be here today," he said. "But somebody recognized my ability as I hope to do with students."

According to Ribeau everyone has something to contribute to the betterment of Howard and its students.

"I want every student on this campus to be treated how [my daughter] should be treated," he said.

He said he plans to meet with staffs of student leaders at regularly scheduled town hall meetings to discuss and resolve university issues and student experiences.

In addition, Ribeau is a Trustee for Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, and on the President's Council for the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

A Detroit native, Ribeau received a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in 1971 and moved on to earn an interpersonal communication master's degree in 1973 and doctoral degree in 1979, both from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

He has held many positions since the beginning of his career in education in 1976, and has worked at several universities. His former posts include professor of communications studies and then chair of the Pan African Studies Department at California State University in Los Angeles, dean of undergraduate studies at California State University in San Bernardina, and vice-president of academic affairs at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

The university's Presidential Search Committee, co-chaired by Gen. Colin Powell and Richard Parsons, led the nationwide search for the university's 16th president that began last spring when President Swygert announced his plans to retire in June 2008.

Ribeau acknowledged the works of his predecessor saying, "There are a lot of programs to maintain, you don't wipe out what is good."

He added, "All the pieces are in place. You just need to bring them together to bring momentum behind the Howard story."

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