This month, he assumed the role of president at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, which has nearly 11,000 students either on campus or enrolled in the satellite facilities in Lee’s Summit, St. Louis and Springfield. Just three days into his first week on the job, Ambrose was able to chat with Ingram’s about his vision for UCM, its students and the Warrensburg community.
Q. In your introductory video on the UCM Web site, you mention the influence of your parents in two key areas: Service and partnership. How will those traits apply to your new duties?
A. I intend, as school begins and the community gathers around the university in a new academic year, to focus on what the possibilities are—to ask questions of the community and the university’s stakeholders, the board of governors, civic leaders and others—for leadership development and civic engagement. We want the UCM experience to produce the next generation of leaders equipped to serve in the communities where they live and work. Higher education now evolves at such a rapid pace; there’s never been a time more dynamic than right now.
Q. You have talked about the opportunity you had to earn your master’s degree early, and how that affected your career path. Will that experience influence what you do here?
A. There are two things to consider: First, from a work-force perspective, this is a great time to be back in school. In some ways, education becomes a safe haven for retooling and repositioning in an economy that may not offer immediate job opportunities. The second piece is, our goal is making education accessible and affordable in ways where people can continue to juggle all the balls in their life and still earn a degree.
Q. How do you get to that?
A. We will continue to accelerate our outreach to adult learners in ways that meet that criteria—very accessible, value-driven opportunities to extend their education. Some people will do it with a wide range of options, on-line, or with hybrid approaches like the Summit Center, practicums, applied experience and the like. If you have it in your heart to meet people’s needs, with tools that meet those needs in a very different way, this is not only an exciting time, it’s our time.
Q. What does success in that effort look like to you?
A. One of the most exciting days for a university president is when you’re able to hand that degree to a working adult who has kept all those balls in the air. It’s a special feeling.
Q. What is your sense of the budget squeeze the state is under, and the effects on higher education?
A. Not all 50 states are comparable, but I’m grateful to be coming to Missouri. A lot of other states have fiscal situations that are worse, and none that are easy. The challenge we want to respond to is, one, we want to be part of the solutions. Second, we need to find ways to do more with less, but still better. The response has to be centered on education, and educating.
Q. What is the one thing about you that would surprise people meeting you for the first time?
A. One of the little-known parts that bios about you don’t tell—and I’m coming up in November on 26 years of marriage—I’ve never come out on the low end to beat my wife on the golf course. There are a lot of elements to that, including her taking it to me at 8½ months pregnant. Just telling you that is somewhat cleansing to me.
