Virginia Schaefer Horvath ‘75

Trustee

Dr. Virginia Schaefer Horvath, President of the State University of New York at Fredonia, formerly served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fredonia. She previously was at Kent State University as professor of English, Dean of Academic and Student Services, and Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning. A recipient of Kent State’s Distinguished Teaching Award, she has academic specialties in medieval literature, British literature, children’s/young adult literature, and poetry.

A member of SEM’s Class of 1975, Horvath earned a BA in English from the University of Buffalo and an MA and PhD in English from Kent State University. She was a visiting professor at Shimane University (Japan). She served on the Provosts’ Steering Committee of the AASCU Red Balloon Project, a national initiative for reimagining undergraduate education. In addition to her role on SEM’s Board of Trustees, she is on the boards of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Brooks Memorial Hospital, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, and the Girl Scouts of Western New York, and she serves on the Regional Economic Development Council of Western New York.