Message from the President

Greetings,

As I talk with students, alumni, employers, legislators and many others who are invested in what we do at Slippery Rock University, the story that I often tell is that The Rock is on the rise. This isn’t just a catchy phrase. It sums up the SRU community’s forward-thinking approach to student success that has produced measurable results, from our largest single-year enrollment increase in 20 years to our record-setting retention and graduate rates.

Especially during a time when the higher education landscape is often defined by uncertainty, SRU is demonstrating what is possible when we expand opportunities for our students and strengthen the communities we serve.

We rise by sparking creativity, intellect, and the caring ambitions of our students. To use the title of one of Elliott Haverlack’s books, we are “Firestarters” who fuel the potential in others. Fittingly, that’s exactly what Elliott, ’80, and Rhonda Haverlack did with their historic investment in SRU. Their transformative gift of $5 million not only established our first named college, the Haverlack College of Business, it also empowers and supports student scholarships, faculty research, facility enhancements, and much more.

Their generous philanthropic act is an inspiration for us all and an example of how contributions — small or large, of time or money — can provide a spark for those to rise within the SRU community.

Firestarters understand that progress is built, not assumed. They recognize that when you invest in people — when you remove barriers, create pathways, and open doors — you create momentum that extends far beyond our campus. It reaches into our classrooms, where students are challenged to think critically and ethically; into our labs and studios, where curiosity and collaboration drive discovery; and into the broader community, where graduates return as leaders, educators, and contributors who lift others as they climb.

At SRU, this approach has proven to be a model for success, through personalized support, experiential learning, faculty mentorship, and opportunities for civic engagement that consistently produce graduates who excel, lead, and contribute to society in their careers and communities. This is the essence of SRU’s mission: to prepare students not just for careers, but for meaningful lives of impact.

The spark is here. And together, it continues to blaze, lighting the path to new heights.

With pride and gratitude,

Karen Riley
President, Slippery Rock University