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The new chancellor isn’t someone you’d expect to see as you walk around campus. I found myself hesitant to speak when I noticed a familiar man in a suit briskly walking out of the Whitman School of Management on my way inside. His face looked familiar from recent photos.

“Are you Dean Haynie?” I asked.

Without knowing who I was or whether I was a Whitman student, he smiled, shook my hand and said his name was Michael. I introduced myself, telling him my majors were biology and journalism.

“What are you doing here at Whitman?” he asked.

I explained that I was interviewing students for this article on reactions to his appointment as chancellor.

I added that while I initially thought an external hire for chancellor would be better, I’d since reconsidered.

Given Chancellor-elect Mike Haynie’s nearly 20 years of involvement at Syracuse University and his experience working closely with students as the Whitman executive dean, an internal appointment now seemed like a strong choice.

“It’s all about the students,” Haynie said.

This familiarity is valuable. An external hire may bring knowledge and experience from another school, but what works elsewhere doesn’t necessarily translate to SU’s array of concerns and needs. Haynie’s perspective is shaped by years within this environment, putting him in a stronger position to lead it forward.

I’m impressed by the impact Haynie has had on SU over the past decade, particularly through his leadership and involvement in initiatives like the National Veterans Resource Center. This personal experience makes him a compelling choice for chancellor.

Before coming to SU, Haynie served as a United States Air Force Officer for 14 years. His commitment to supporting veterans at SU feels meaningful and suggests a passion for prioritizing the people within the university.

Haynie is the executive director and founder of SU’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans & Military Families, which offers programs, education and training to transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. He’s behind the development of the NVRC at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, where his announcement ceremony as chancellor was held.

To me, an integral part of being a leader is servant leadership, leading humbly by example, putting others first and meeting people where they are. I expect Haynie’s passion for SU will help him serve the community as chancellor, as he has for the veteran community and Whitman.

Haynie’s perspective is shaped by years within this environment, putting him in a stronger position to lead it forward.

Considering how easily it was for me to bump into Haynie, it’s refreshing to see a friendly, recognizable face stepping into the role of chancellor.

Kerubo Mekenye, a Whitman sophomore majoring in Finance and Business Analytics, said she has heard of “how big of a heart” Haynie has for SU students.

“He will get lunch with students or he’ll just talk to them in the hallways,” Mekenye said. “It’s cool that he is invested in the people’s lives here in Whitman.”

A few students shared that their brief yet personal interactions with Haynie left positive impressions. CJ Bruno, a freshman with accounting and finance majors, who met the chancellor-elect earlier in the school year, recounted how Haynie was excited to hear they shared a hometown of Philadelphia.

“I didn’t feel like I was talking to some super high-up,” Bruno said. “I felt like I was talking to a normal person, a normal professor. He was super personable.”

We need a chancellor who is accessible and enjoys taking time out of their day to talk to students, making them feel welcome. Even from my short conversation with Haynie, I found him inviting and attentive.

But, ultimately, what matters is the decisions Haynie makes as chancellor once he begins on July 1. His experience at SU should inform a broader vision, one that allows his passion to spread beyond Whitman and benefit the entire university.

His track record offers a clear model. At Whitman, he has driven growth through initiatives like the Center for the Creator Economy, a joint venture between Whitman and the Newhouse School of Public Communications. Notably, Haynie was also a key leader in developing Transformation 2030, a five-year plan to elevate Whitman to a top 25 undergraduate business program by 2030.

Some Whitman students said they would like the new chancellor to improve financial aid for students and decrease the tuition to attract new students. The 2025-2026 tuition for undergraduates living on campus is $66,580 and the total cost of attendance with health insurance is $94,792.

Despite Haynie’s familiarity with how SU typically operates, I hope he will still think outside of the box, consider students’ concerns and forge a new path.

While many students had opinions about Haynie, several I spoke with expressed that they were unaware a new chancellor had been appointed or had not done any research on him. Others said they didn’t feel like the decision directly impacted their daily lives.

Although the chancellor’s role can feel distant, especially for freshmen, I urge students to take an interest in learning about the new leadership. Consider what you want from SU, what you value and what you hope will change.

OlaRose Ndubuisi is a freshman majoring in biology and journalism. She can be reached at oandubui@syr.edu.

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