The Triangle

Issue date: 1/16/09 Section: News

Media Credit: University Relations

Carl "Tobey" Oxholm was appointed inaugural dean and chief executive officer of Drexel's Center for Graduate Studies in Sacramento Jan. 14.

According to Oxholm, his appointment was the result of frequent visits to the California campus since last May.

"The president decided that he was going to make this my primary duty for the foreseeable future, which in terms of the appointment is two years plus to make this operation succeed," Oxholm said. "I will continue to have other obligations, but this is now my primary role."

Oxholm said the Sacramento campus currently offers nine master's degrees, and the objective is to make sure the education offered will serve the community as well as enhance the name of Drexel University and attract more students to the campus.

"A lot of it is trying to make sure that we have new doors open for our students, and the west coast becomes a real possibility for those who are interested in the west coast and pacific rim," Oxholm said. "When students graduate, we want them to say 'Yeah, I know Drexel, they're great,' instead of 'Drexel? What's that?'"

According to Oxholm, the Sacramento campus has undergone vast developments in the last year. Some of his projects include running advertising for the campus, holding open houses and info sessions for students, hosting faculty and introducing them to business community education leaders in California and participating in seminars on strategic planning.

Oxholm's duties on the campus will include acting as principal contact for the campus community, as the primary representative for Drexel University on the west coast for the alumni and the Northern California regions, and ensuring the academic degrees and certification programs offered are responsive to the region's demands for higher education.

"I know that Tobey is the right leader to make the Graduate Center a success and national model," Constantine Papadakis, University president said in a press release. "Having our university's second-highest officer move from Philadelphia to Sacramento is a clear declaration of our commitment to excellence and to joining the region's leadership in working to build a first-tier economy."

Richard Greenawalt, chairman of Drexel's Board of Trustees, also expressed his approval of the administrative decision in a press release.

"Our graduate center is being developed from the ground up to meet the specific needs of the greater Sacramento region," Greenawalt said. "Tobey's energy and ability in building relationships with the business and nonprofit communities, demonstrated over three decades here in Philadelphia, will remain instrumental in that process."

Oxholm will continue to hold an office at Drexel's Philadelphia campus, and will be on the main campus from three to five days a month and will continue working on Drexel Green and serving as a member of the president's cabinet, as well as leading the executive council.

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