“It was the perfect fit,” Summers said Wednesday. “I was ready to spread my wings, and I looked at this as a sign of that opportunity.”
Summers and her former husband lived one year in Middletown in the late 1980s when he attended the University of Dayton and she was a student at the University of Cincinnati. She’s “super familiar” with the region, she said.
She has been impressed with the educational environment at Cincinnati State even though it’s in the summer session.
“The energy is fantastic,” she said.
She said Cincinnati State offers a small campus with the benefits of larger resources. She said traditional and non-traditional students can thrive at Cincinnati State, and that only helps the local economy.
Cincinnati State President Monica J. Posey said Summers’ appointment is a key step in her goal of making Cincinnati State the region’s top choice for affordable higher education, an effort that will focus on improving student success and forging closer alliances with employers.
“Mimi has exactly the right combination of attributes we were seeking to lead our growth in Butler and surrounding counties—excellent experience, a passion for student achievement, and deep ties throughout the community,” Posey said.
Summers holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications from UC and a Juris Doctor degree from the UD School of Law.
Summers began practicing law in Dayton in 1991. Within a few years she was also teaching law classes at what is now Fortis College in Centerville. In 1999, she began taking leadership roles at Fortis and since 2011 has devoted her full attention to higher education, most recently serving as Fortis’ director of institutional effectiveness and compliance prior to joining Cincinnati State.
Cincinnati State, with support by the City of Middletown, opened its Butler County campus in downtown Middletown in the fall 2012.
Summers said one of her first priorities will be reaching out to employers, community leaders, and prospective students “to let them know the incredible opportunities we have to offer.”
Cincinnati State’s Butler County campus offers more than 30 degrees and certificate programs. Students also have the option of beginning their studies at the Butler County campus and completing one of more than 100 additional certificates or degree programs offered by Cincinnati State on its main campus in Hamilton County.
“By partnering with employers and offering our students individualized attention, we are in the perfect position to change lives,” Summers said. “Not only can our students make a significant contribution to their families’ future, but also our workforce and our community.”
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