President Skleder kicks off listening and learning tour

Brenau University President Anne Skleder shares a laugh with Crystal Toombs
Brenau President Anne Skleder high fives a student
Brenau University President Anne Skleder high fives a student on the Norcross campus during a visit on her Listening and Learning Tour.

In her new role as president of Brenau University, Anne Skleder has two immediate objectives: to listen and to learn.

So intent is she to get to know the people who make a difference in the lives of Brenau students that Skleder recently kicked off what she dubbed Anne’s Listening and Learning Tour. She is meeting with every department not only on Brenau’s historic Gainesville campus, but on its campuses in Norcross, Fairburn and Augusta, Georgia, as well as Jacksonville, Florida.

“I am asked a lot of questions,” Skleder said. “The most popular ones are along the lines of, ‘What are your priorities for Brenau?’ and, ‘What are you going to do?’ As to what I’m planning to do, the answer to that is clear: listening and learning. I am asking a lot of questions to faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Brenau.”

Scott Redmon, director of the Norcross campus, said his faculty, staff and students were excited to get to know Skleder better as she visited in late July.

“There was a lot of buzz about a new president, especially the first female president for Brenau,” he said. “You could just tell the energy she brought was amazing. Lots of students, staff and faculty were very engaged with her and grateful for her willingness to get to know them individually and shake their hand and laugh with them. I think people really enjoyed listening to her talk and are very positive about where Brenau is headed.”

Redmon said approximately 80 people attended the Norcross reception for Skleder, including nearly 50 students.

“One student in particular shared how much his professors and the positivity they give their students keep them at Brenau and get them through the semester,” Redmon said. “It was great feedback.”

Skleder previously served as senior vice president, provost and professor of psychology at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She has experience in strategic planning, accreditation, assessment of student learning, academic program development at all levels, retention, developing educational partnerships to serve students and community-based learning.