Over and over again, President Lynne Murray is asked what she wants to do for Baker University. She has plans, hopes and dreams, sure. But as for right now, she’s just enjoying getting to know the community.

“This is just an idyllic town,” Murray said. “Walking down the street, it’s ideal America.

Her first mission as “Dr. Lynne” is to be “visible with a purpose.” Murray aims to meet students where they are, whether it be emotionally, mentally or physically. Similar to Pat Long, Baker’s previous president, she hopes to be present at student events.

“I want students to see me as someone they can depend on,” Murray said. “I want to be there, wherever they are. I want them to know they can come to me for advice.”

Not only does Murray want to help students, she wants them to help her as well.

“I want this presidency to be built on insights I gain from (students),” Murray said. “I really want to learn from students as much as they can learn from me. What I would like this population of students to help with is identifying where we will be 10 years from now. Is Baker sustainable? Help us think outside of the box.”

To achieve this, Murray hopes to create opportunities to have conversations with students, whether it be a coffee date in the new Harter Union to regular meetings in her office.

While Murray’s inauguration is still two months away, Executive Assistant Myra Glover is excited about the inauguration plans. Glover said the first five weeks have been great for the office, embracing Murray’s “newness and openness.”

“As the plans for inauguration unfold, I get really excited with (Murray’s) direction,” Glover said. “We are enthusiastic and off to a great start with (Murray). With as close and good as (Pat Long) was, we’re not going to miss a beat.”

The office is managing what Glover calls a “seamless transition” between the two presidents.<br/>

Murray said that she will use the next two months to better prepare for the inauguration on Oct. 30.

“If I gave my inaugural speech now, it could be completely out of the realm of what students and the community want,” she said.

Murray also said she is aware of her main task.

“My job is to raise money and endowment,” Murray said. “That’s what they brought me here for. We need to have something to offer the students at Baker.”

Dean of Students Brian Posler agreed that it was Murray’s fundraising resources that attracted some of those in the presidential search committee. But Posler said that in each stage of the process, Murray was an apparent front-runner.

“I could just feel how well she was going to connect to our students as well as alumni and donors,” Posler said. “She’s got that experience and that spark that come together that I think would be good for the campuses.”

Murray said her biggest challenge right now is balancing the demands for action with the need to listen and learn. As a firm believer in shared governance, she hopes to be able to learn a lot from the BU community before her inauguration. She said that for higher education, “it’s just not smart” to make the presidency just one person; shared governance makes the president’s office stronger.

“What I hope (students) will learn from me is that we’re all one Baker, whether you’re an undergraduate or a graduate student, we’re all one and we’re only as great as the weakest one among us,” Murray said. “Yes, I’m the new president, yes I’m going to have a vision to share, but that vision is going to be built on the insights I gain from (students).”

As for now, Murray reminds students that she’s only been on campus for five weeks. But on the day she met with local media outlets, she spoke to what her larger goals for the university are.

“It feels so good to be here and I’m honored to be here and build my foundation on such strength,” Murray said. “My vision for Baker is to lead us beyond the horizon. I believe that we are in a great place. We have distinguished faculty, the support of our board, and some of the best students in the country.”