Dr. Cynthia Anderson
Dr. Cynthia Anderson grew up in Vienna, Ohio, and earned her bachelor’s degree in business education from Youngstown State University in 1973. She completed her master’s degree at Ohio State University in 1976 while teaching at Westerville South High School, then returned to YSU in 1979 as an instructor. She earned her Ed.D. from the University of Akron in 1990 and was promoted to professor of marketing and public relations in 2000.
Named Vice President for Student Affairs in 1995, Dr. Anderson spent 15 years overseeing enrollment management, student services, student life, and campus security. She launched YSU’s first student orientation program, the Office of Veterans’ Affairs, the Center for Student Progress, Campus Recreation and Intramural Sports, the Emerging Leaders Program, and the YSU Alert emergency notification system. On July 1, 2010, she became the first woman, the first Youngstown-area native, and the first YSU graduate to serve as the University’s president. She retired in 2013.
Dr. Anderson has been a steady presence in the community and a key supporter of the Hope Foundation from the start. While serving as Vice President for Student Affairs, she helped our founder launch the Foundation and provided advice and logistics as the Game of Hope began in 2005. She returned in 2011 as an honorary coach alongside other community leaders.
Over the years, she has served on the boards of the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic, Associated Neighborhood Centers, Leadership Mahoning Valley, the Rich Center for Autism, and the United Methodist Community Center. Her honors include the 2004 ATHENA Award, the YSU Board of Trustees’ University Leadership Merit Award in 2000, and the Cynthia E. Anderson Lifetime Leadership and Achievement Award, created in her name by Student Government.
We are honored to welcome Dr. Anderson as an Honorary Co-Chair of the 15th Annual Wine for Hope on Friday, April 9, 2027, at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield, as we celebrate 20 years of serving Mahoning Valley children and families.