Fayetteville State's Bryan Ready For First CIAA Tournament As Chancellor

It is not too often you will catch Fayetteville State University Chancellor T.J. Bryan sitting still. She came to the university in July 2003 and has not slowed down since.

"I felt at home very quickly and I've been busy, busy, busy," she said. "Folks joke that they need something faster than roller skates to keep up."

Bryan said she is busy trying to make the home of the Broncos better.

"We're going to be developing a four-year nursing program. We're also looking at a program in forensic sciences. We've submitted notification to develop that program as well as a program in biotechnology," she said.

While academics are Bryan's priority, she has also focused on how the university is run. She came on the job shortly after a routine state audit found serious mistakes in the school's 2002 financial report.

"I'm very concerned about efficiency and effectiveness, so we're changing some of the ways we do business," she said.

Bryan brought in a consultant to straighten the books. A former deputy state auditor is now the vice-chancellor of business and finance.

While Bryan is riding high with her bevy of ideas for her Broncos, she still has to convince some skeptics. Many students, though, give her high marks.

"The new projects she's trying to do -- as far as getting the nursing program -- I think that's great," sophomore Shantia Mallory said.

"Chancellor Bryan is really nice and she's making a lot of changes around school. Like, we're getting security posts outside each exit, which means you'll have to go through a security guard, which will be a lot safer," sophomore Leonard Jones said.

Students may be surprised to hear their chancellor likes to have fun, too. She is diving right in to her first CIAA Tournament.

"I'm prepared. I have, at least I think, the requisite number of blue and white outfits," she said.

Bryan replaced Dr. Willis McLeod. After a year's paid sabbatical for research, McLeod will teach part-time in FSU's School of Education.