Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2007-10-15 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

For the past 11 years, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis has been president of D.C.’s Southeastern University, the first woman to hold that position. A longtime District resident, Jarvis was a member of the D.C. Council until 2000, when she was defeated by current Mayor Adrian Fenty.

In a city of many institutions of higher learning, what makes Southeastern different?

Our university is very nimble and entrepreneurial. If employers say to us, “This is what we need,” we are able to create an associates degree, a four-year program that meets the regional marketplace. Our emphasis, therefore, is making sure that our students are benefiting from the prosperity in the region.

How is running a university different and similar to being on the D.C. Council?

Council members make policy which the executive branch implements. Presidents of universities make policy which they themselves are responsible for seeing implemented through committed faculty and administrators. Thus, I now have a more direct opportunity to affect outcomes and success for our students.

This year, the Southeastern University’s 8th Annual Gala is a roast of the city as a whole rather than a particular notable person. What kind of jabs would you expect?

One of the skits will be done by the weathermen from a number of stations. We’re laughing at ourselves about the response we all make to snow – we close schools, governments, we’re fearful of going out. And people from Chicago are astounded by our response ... The women of the council will do a lip sync to “Dreamgirls.” We’re going to have the top 10 things that would happen if the District were to become a state. ... Hilary Clinton will do a video showing the fact that members of Congress often don’t know the city, so they say they’re going to Len’s Chili Bowl.