At Associates, Monmouth President Patricia Draves stresses importance of strong college-community connection
Monmouth, Ill. (09/20/2024) — A strong Monmouth community means a strong Monmouth College.
That was the chief message Monmouth President Patricia Draves delivered at the college's first Monmouth Associates gathering of the academic year, held Thursday in the college's Stockdale Center.
A former chemistry professor at Monmouth from 2002-06, Draves returned to campus in July to serve as the college's 15th president, leaving Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, where she had served as president since 2017. She was the unanimous choice of Monmouth's board of trustees after a national search.
A welcoming community
One of Draves' priorities during her first year back at Monmouth is building a strong "culture of connection," both on campus and with the larger Monmouth-Warren County community.
"We're blessed that our community is so welcoming here," she said. "There are so many places that 'tolerate' having a college in their town. I use that word because it's a direct quote I hear from other college presidents. ... So many obstacles are already removed here at Monmouth - the type of stumbling blocks that affect other places."
As a visual aid for that point, Draves clicked on a slide that listed more than a dozen area businesses and agencies that consistently support Monmouth College.
"I want to thank everybody in town for the work they do with the college and for all the things you will be doing in the future," she said.
An early initiative of Draves' administration has been to distribute Monmouth College flags for local businesses to fly.
"If the town wins, Monmouth College wins, and if Monmouth College wins, the town wins," she said. "It's a symbiotic relationship, so wave that flag proudly."
Serving the community
There are many ways a college can help a town, such as providing a series of cultural events throughout the year and bringing in hundreds of new consumers who spend eight or nine months a year in the community. But Draves listed another benefit when she discussed a recent survey given to Monmouth's incoming class.
"One of the top five answers to what was important to them was making friends," she said. "But another was serving their community. That's the type of student that Monmouth attracts."
During her remarks, Draves also stated what makes Monmouth distinctive.
"Part of our mission statement is to empower students to realize their full potential," she said. "If there's a school that does that well, it's Monmouth College."
In addition to Draves and her husband - 1985 Monmouth graduate Jeff Draves - the town has gained another new resident, as the president's father, Tom Holland, moved to town after Labor Day.
"We're broadening the team," she said while introducing him to the Associates attendees. "You've got me as the president, but I've got a lot of support from family, too."
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