Often in higher education, athletics and academics make for awkward bedfellows. Instances of academic fraud -- staff members completing class work for athletes or players being steered to phony courses for easy grades -- have made headlines, embarrassed universities and drawn censure from the NCAA.
However, when vision, hard work and fortuitous circumstances align, athletics and academics can enjoy a positive, synergistic relationship. Such has been the case at Baltimore County's Stevenson University, where the 16-year tenure of recently retired president Kevin Manning has seen the institution evolve exponentially from what had formerly been Villa Julie College.
Since Manning's arrival in 2000, enrollment has grown from about 1,500 to more than 4,200; the university budget increased from $25 million to about $155 million, and numerous intercollegiate sports were added, including football.
