Dr. Helen Popovich in FAU
The presidency of Dr. Helen Popovich at Florida Atlantic University from 1983 to 1989 marked the first woman president in the history of the institution. During her tenure, FAU witnessed significant expansion of the academic as well as physical infrastructure. During her university administration tenure, she made efforts to increase access to higher education and employment for minority students, faculty, and staff. Her persistence in enhancing institutional quality and inclusive, equitable education not only creates avenues in FAU but also in the other universities she would work in later in her life.
Before becoming president of FAU, Dr. Popovich had the intangible experience as a faculty member and academic achievements. As mentioned in the newspaper, the Digital Commons at the University of South Florida.
Some of her work was related to topics about feminine liberation and education, for example, “Shelf of Dolls: A Modern View of Ibsen’s Emancipated Woman,” authored by Dr. Popovich, discussing literary themes and emancipation. This publication showcases her academic background through this paper by making her voice heard. Previously, she was involved in administrative charges in other universities, like Winona State University in Minnesota, and served as the acting president for 18 months before coming to FAU.
Leadership and achievements at FAU
Before assuming the presidency, in 1983 one of the titles of The UCF Report affirmed the position of Popovich as “Florida’s first female college president” and then described the process of the election, who was involved, and showed evident support for Popovich, by Barbara Newell, another woman who also made history by becoming the first female chancellor in Florida. As Newell is quoted in the article, “Obviously I’m very pleased with the nomination, and I look forward to the board’s action”. (Newell,1983). When Popovich was nominated by the state Board of Regents and then selected by the board, there was no opposition to the decision or a desire to name someone else. Newell also stated that Popovich’s path wouldn’t be easy as a woman. She made a public call by stating, “I hope for the sake of everyone involved that they look at her as a university president, and not just as a woman.” (Newell,1983). Meaning she had more to offer to the institution if the institution would see her as more than a woman, as a human being that is capable of leadership, responsibility, and service for FAU, but they must overcome prejudice.
By becoming president at Florida Atlantic University in August 1983, Popovich became the first woman to hold the highest position in a state university in Florida. During her period, different key transformations happened in said university, as is going to be discussed further in this reading.
As mentioned in the article Fig.3 of the Atlantic Sun, “despite an anticipated shortage of funds for materials and expansion to meet future needs, Dr. Popovich said one must focus directly on the quality of the faculty, the academic excellence and reputation at any university” (Tywonlak,1984). Popovich knew about the condition of the university and decided to take a chance on it. She also had an optimistic and conscious outlook, as she stated, “I feel FAU is in the process of becoming a major university, but before we could realistic say that we are, we would have the lower division and doctorate programs in place with some sort of record of accomplishment”.(Popovich, 1984)
In the Florida Atlantic University website, “The Popovich Years (1983-1989)” it offers additional understanding of the achievements that she made during her time at FAU, as previously mentioned; the opening of the first and second years for becoming a major university, but also as a response for the increase in demand for a four-year university South Florida increasing population.
The same year that Popovich spoke about becoming a major university, and that one of the requirements was to have a lower division, well, they achieved it the same year of 1984 during her presidency. The Florida Atlantic University website refers to this achievement as “One far-reaching change implemented at FAU”. (“The Popovich Years”) Additionally, Popovich contributed to the establishment of the building O’D Askew Tower in Fort Lauderdale by supporting the project in cooperation with FIU and FAU’s sites, which amplified the existing opportunities of education in South Florida and “adequately serve the residents of Broward County”. (Tywonlak,1984) mentioned in Fig.4 “Popovich” pg.2.
Furthermore, as mentioned on FAU website, Dr. Popovich advocated for inclusion and inclusivity, which created a considerable increase in the enrollment and employment of African Americans, Hispanics, and women’s personnel. Contribute to the establishment of the program of certification in Women’s Studies, which facilitated the advances of women at the university, and her leadership made the university’s investigation a reality, achieving $10 million being delivered to investigation funds in 1989.
One of her initiatives to improve the university can be seen in the article shown in Fig.5, which states that the committee directed by Roberta Maddox delivered a report dated February 26, which includes various recommendations about automation of administration and management activities, which were difficult to apply but were considered necessary. During the press conference, Popovich says that the information was shared with the key personnel and that the recommendations have already been implemented. Popovich and Reed saw the report as an opportunity to improve the registration system and increase the responsibility, communication, and training of new staff. They both insisted that the university has grown a lot and needs strategic arrangements; a need for formalized procedures, capacitation, and periodic evaluation to conduct better management of the employees and improve the university system.
During her time at FAU, she was involved with the efforts directed to support students, ensuring influence and creating impact on future university generations. For example, raising scholarship funds, creating relationships, and being involved with the FAU community. The following archival images and scholarship records document community engagement, honors, and key collaborations involving Dr. Popovich during her leadership and academic years at FAU.
After FAU
After leaving FAU in 1989, Dr. Popovich accepted the role of president at Ferris State University in Michigan, therefore also becoming the first woman to heading the university of Ferris State University and in all Michigan state. Popovich continued prioritizing excellence in education management, advocating for institutional changes of readaptation by referring to the importance of funding the library as a “high priority” (Popovich in Fig.16)
Dr. Helen Popovich continues as an education consultant and holds the status of Professional Register Parliamentarian. She remains valuable for her contribution to the development of ethics in universities and leadership in professional societies and educational entities. Furthermore, she was involved with the efforts directed to support university students, assuring her influence on future university generations. For example, raising scholarship funds, creating relationships, and being involved with the FAU community.
Legacy and Repercussion
The legacy of Dr. Helen Popovich is broader than her presidency. Her labor opened the doors for growth and change in FAU and other institutions, giving steps toward change to an education more inclusive and of quality, as much in Florida as in Michigan: Supporting the feminine governance and the diversity of superior education. Assigned priority to the recruitment of people from the community of minorities and women for administrative positions. Her legacy is mentioned in books like “Legacymakers: 100 Women of Distinction at FAU”. In 2020, in a virtual conference, she won the 2020 Delta Kappa Gamma International Achievement Award. This honor recognizes her lifetime contributions as an outstanding leader of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, as well as for her efforts on behalf of women teachers and educational groups.
Recently in FAU Schmidt gallery exhibition named “A Century of Jews in Boca Raton (1925-2025)” in which her portrait is placed in a section with the rest of the presidents of FAU, by being there is acknowledging her work and efforts, additionally there is collection at FAU digital library where is an informative collection just about her where it can be found in the historic archives of FAU. Her model of courage, responsibility, and progressive vision in university education until this day. The footprint of Dr. Popovich still exists in each structure, and students benefit from the inclusive policy and the commitment to academic excellence.
