She’s been here since mid-May and on-the-job since June 1.
Friday morning, Lincoln University President Jerald Jones Woolfolk told Mid-Missouri business representatives: “It feels like home to me.
“When I drove here from Upper New York State, and I got to the sign that says ‘Jefferson City,’ and just this ease came over me — and I said, ‘I’m at home.’
“And I’ve felt that way since I moved here in May.”
Woolfolk is Lincoln’s 20th president, and came to Jefferson City after serving as the State University of New York-Oswego’s vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
She grew up in Leland, in the Mississippi River Delta Region of west-central Mississippi, and earned her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees at Jackson State University, an HBCU in the Mississippi capital.
Woolfolk earned her master’s degree from Iowa State University, Ames.
She’s worked and taught at both historically black and predominately white institutions, telling an LU audience in April — as she was introduced as the school’s new president — that she brings “something from every institution” to her new job.
“I think that Lincoln University is one of the hidden jewels of our country,” she told about three dozen people attending the monthly Friday Coffee event at the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce office, 213 Adams St.
As she said at Thursday’s Opening Convocation, Woolfolk reminded the business leaders that Lincoln is “one of the most diverse institutions in this country. And we, here in Jefferson City, can be a role model of how different people, from different backgrounds, can work together toward success.
“I want us to be out there. I want us to have a national reputation for the things that we do here in Jefferson City.”
Woolfolk told Lincoln’s Curators at a meeting Thursday that she already has agreed to join the Capital Region Medical Center’s board of directors as well as the Chamber’s board.
Even in the short time she’s been in Jefferson City, she said Friday morning, she’s attended a number of events — and told several stories of people who had stopped her at a store, restaurant or at the mall and told her how pleased they were that she had come to town.
“I want to be more active in the community, and I want you to be more active in Lincoln University,” she told the Friday Coffee crowd, “and share with us your thoughts and share with us what you think we should be doing.
“Should we be doing more in the community?
“Should we have a different mix of academic programs, that will help develop our workforce here in Jefferson City?”
A chamber study last year suggested Lincoln should restore night classes, like the school held in the past.
Woolfolk said that’s being considered.
“We understand that, to not have night classes is not a good thing for the institution — because many of the people who are engaged in night classes are non-traditional students who are coming back to either complete a degree, get a master’s degree, or something like that,” she said. “So, we are looking into offering more programs at night — not just a class here or there, but having enough courses so that people can go at night to earn their degree.
“But more importantly, we are looking at developing online degree programs, where a student does not have to come to the campus, but can earn their degree online.”
No decisions have been made yet, she reported.
But Lincoln administrators know and understand their school “is a major economic driver for this community.”
Chamber President Randy Allen agreed, telling the Friday Coffee group: “It’s a huge economic driver — not just the salaries and the hard costs that Lincoln spends in the community, but what they produce.
“They produce our future business leaders and employees.”
Woolfolk said: “Many of the students who graduate from Lincoln remain in this community.
“That is how we help improve our workforce … help improve revenues that come into our city (and) how we improve our housing market.
“We all are invested in Lincoln University — (and) our challenges can be overcome with all of us working together.”