The president of the Posse Foundation, which provides students with full, four-year scholarships to colleges and universities, met with Syracuse University Posse scholars for the first time on Wednesday.

President Deborah Bial talked with Posse scholars about the work they’ve been doing on the SU campus and in the community. Bial had lunch at the Chancellor’s House before watching scholars perform songs and present their work in a classroom in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She then mingled with the scholars in attendance for about an hour.

Bial was originally scheduled to visit campus on Jan. 26, but was unable to make it due to a snowstorm in New York City.

Bial is constantly visiting campuses that support Posse programs, she said, but Wednesday was her first time meeting with current SU scholars in a personal setting.

“I loved them,” she said. “I’m proud of them, I’m impressed by them. It re-inspires me about our scholars.”

A main purpose of Bial’s visit was to support the relationship between Posse and SU, and to acknowledge the new leadership on campus, she said. In addition, Bial said she wanted to hear about what’s been happening on campus and celebrate the partnership between the school and the foundation.

Last semester, SU announced that next year it would reduce the number of Posses it supports from three — in Miami, Los Angeles and Atlanta — to two, eliminating the Los Angeles Posse. The university also announced it will only maintain its Atlanta Posse for next year, while keeping the Miami Posse in the long term. The continuing Posses will each support 10 new students. Many students, including current Posse scholars, protested the changes and the way they were announced.

Bial said knowing the way students reacted last semester to the changes played a role in her and other Posse Foundation leaders visiting campus.

“We totally wanted to be here and hear more about what students care about, what they dream of and hope for and wish for and to talk more with the administration,” she said.

She added that she’s supportive of the decisions of the SU administration, and she values the partnership between the university and Posse, regardless of how many Posses SU supports.

“As long as they’re a partner, we’re happy,” she said.

Some Posse Scholars who met with Bial Wednesday said the day gave them a chance to meet with the person largely responsible for their college experience.

David L. Jackson, a sophomore from Miami majoring in history and secondary education, said Bial changed his life. Meeting with her Wednesday was an opportunity to show her the work he’s been doing in the SU community, Jackson said.

Jackson and four other Posse scholars told Bial and other scholars about Project G.R.I.N.D., a program in which the five scholars mentor young men on the city’s west side.

Ryan Bolton, a freshman engineering major from Atlanta, said it was amazing to see how Bial is as a person having never met her before. Her visit showed her commitment to each of the scholars, he said.

“It means a lot to me because you don’t really see people like this so far up in the ranks, you just know them and they don’t really know you,” he said. “But she’s made a commitment to know each and every one of us personally.”

At the end of the afternoon’s events, Bial said goodbye to the scholars who were still in the Newhouse classroom, taking pictures with them and telling them to stay in touch by emailing her or calling her.

As she prepared to leave, Bial and the scholars agreed the day was a success.

“I’m leaving happy because the scholars are great and the school was so welcoming,” Bial said.

Published on February 5, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Brett: blsamuel@syr.edu | @Brett_Samuels27