Finish
Strong
The Legacy of President Steven P. O’Day
The 16th President of Austin College
By Laura J. Veach
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In 2017, Austin College welcomed Steven and Cece O’Day as the College’s 16th President and First Lady. Their time at Austin College has been constructive, literally and figuratively. One of President O’Day’s first priorities was launching the public phase of a comprehensive fundraising campaign, POWER Austin College, and indeed he started strong. By November 2019, the College had reached 89% of the ambitious $125 million campaign goal. O’Day outlined his vision behind POWER Austin College at the time, saying, “In this campaign, we are working to raise the funds needed to continue the transformational experience today and into the future. We need to support and enhance the scholarships, programs, and facilities involved in educating the whole student—mind, body, and spirit. These experiences are, after all, the essence of an Austin College education.”
The campaign’s success and generous gifts since have allowed nearly every corner of the College to be rejuvenated, from reimagined academic offerings crafted to address contemporary industrial and humanitarian needs, to vast landscaping and facilities revitalization, to the addition of talented faculty and staff. Competitive cheer and men’s and women’s water polo teams have been added, creating new co-curricular opportunities for student-athletes. O’Day’s vision and leadership have positioned Austin College as one of the strongest liberal arts institutions in the country, now backed by a $250+ million endowment and investment portfolio—a record high and more than 150% growth over the last nine years.
While not entirely unscathed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the College was minimally affected as O’Day and his leadership team steered through without any delay in students’ progress toward graduation or the loss of any faculty or staff positions. At a time when not losing ground was gaining ground, he moved forward by focusing efforts on creating renewal plans to be implemented once the crisis had passed. “We persevered in times of austerity, natural disaster, and pandemic—challenges that proved too much for some institutions, but not Austin College,” said O’Day. “I take great pride in the strength we displayed during those tough times, our vision for the future, and our ability to nimbly bring that vision to fruition within our means.”
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“Hand in hand with the development of new academic programs, I am also quite proud of our efforts to implement the needed development and renewal of our physical surroundings on campus and the new Austin College Health Campus,” O’Day continued. “We have touched practically every space on campus—from academic to social space, from athletic to performance space, from residential to outdoor space. Everything we’ve done these past nine years has been to enhance the overall student experience.”
In 2024, the largest cohort of new students in the College’s history arrived, in contrast to a national downward trend in enrollment, as well as the largest cohort of new faculty in recent history. O’Day attributes that growth to years of strategic visioning and persistence. “We have developed contemporary, sometimes new, and relevant academic and co-curricular programs. We continue to address the needs of today’s student and the global community while remaining true to our mission as a liberal arts college,” he said.
O’Day is quick to point out that he didn’t achieve any of these accomplishments alone. In addition to re-envisioning the campus and curriculum, he has also led the continuing evolution of the faculty and staff. After all, the people are, in his estimation, what truly make this place special. “I hope to be remembered for the acquisition, development, and mentorship of new and existing leaders within our college community and for empowering them to pursue excellence in their own jobs,” he reflects. “Their development and extraordinary work have made this college even stronger.”
Fast forward to February 14, 2025, when Austin College Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Austin announced the President’s planned retirement in the summer of 2026. “My inauguration speech was entitled ‘What’s Next,’” said President O’Day in his announcement to the campus. “In that speech, I pledged that the College would get the best I had to offer every single day. I am proud to have lived up to that pledge. At every turn, we asked what’s next and then tried to make it happen. That was true on day one and it will be on day 3,285—nine years later.” Since that declaration, President O’Day has continued to give his best, completing several additional projects including the renewal of Zauk Circle and the announcement of a new academic building on campus, which will be the Harris Engineering Center.
Each semester, O’Day sends an email to students during finals week, encouraging them to “finish strong”—advice he has taken to heart in his last few months as President.
“I hope that my legacy at Austin College will include a few words: ‘leadership’ during challenging times, ‘vision’ for the renewal and continued relevance of all aspects of the College, and ‘achievement’ for bringing ideas to reality. The constantly shifting landscape of higher education requires all of those to address the needs of today’s student and today’s world. I hope my legacy will be that we, all of us, not only stabilized the College during my time here but truly advanced it and positioned it for success in the years to come.”
The O’Days will be remembered fondly and dearly missed on Grand Avenue when they return to their home state of Pennsylvania to be near family, fix up their 186-year-old farmhouse, and pursue other fulfilling interests. A 2018 Austin College Magazine article introducing the O’Days to ’RooNation included a question-and-answer segment. When asked if the President’s Home at Wood House would include any pets, Steven’s response was, “None yet, but we are planning on a puppy in 2018.” Nine years later, the O’Day household remains pet-free, making this, perhaps, the only goal he hasn’t accomplished during his tenure as President of Austin College. Maybe in retirement, they’ll finally be able to get that puppy.
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The Legacy of President Steven P. O'Day
Academic Offerings
Under O’Day’s leadership, academic and co-curricular programs have been enhanced to support current and future needs. The College has also begun offering bachelor of science degree options in select majors to maximize graduates’ opportunities for employment. These programs have been added or expanded since 2018:
- Business Analytics
- Business Finance
- Creative Writing
- Data Analytics
- Education Major
- Engineering
- Health Care Administration
- International Relations
- Kinesiology: Exercise Science and Sports Management
- Master of Medical Science – Physician Assistant
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- Public Health
- Social Justice & Community Engagement
Facility and Grounds Improvements
The O’Day years have brought strategic investments in the revitalization and renewal of the 150-year old campus, with several major additions and renovations that have re-envisioned nearly every corner of the College property:
- Wynne Chapel renovation
- Hoxie Thompson Auditorium renovation
- Ida Green Communication Center renovation, including renovation of Nation Theatre and creation of new Nation Learning Commons
North Flats – construction of new student residence complex- Reconstruction and enhancements to Jordan Family Courts at the Russell Tennis Center
- Hughey Gymnasium renovation and enhancements
- Hannah Natatorium renovation
- Austin College Health Campus build out
- Apple Stadium renovation and enhancements including new artificial turf field and addition of stadium lights and exercise track
- College Park on Grand – construction of new employee housing village
- Campus Renewal Landscaping Initiative
- Residence Hall Modernization Project, including the Bryan Apartment Complex
Other Initiatives
- Creation of a dedicated Institutional Marketing & Communications division
- Reimagining of student support services into the Center for Student Success and Access Services (CSSAS)
- Relaunch of career services office into Center for Career & Professional Development
- Increase in the number of tenure track faculty positions
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