Radford University's new president takes office

RADFORD (WSLS 10) - Radford University's new president is now in his first full week on campus, and is ready to hit the ground running.

WSLS 10 was the first to sit down with Dr. Brian Hemphill after he assumed office as Radford's seventh president.

Hemphill is replacing the school's first female president, Penelope Kyle.

He comes to Southwest Virginia after serving at universities in West Virginia, Illinois and Arkansas.

Hemphill said increasing enrollment and boosting faculty research will be some of his top priorities.

"We want to look at how we begin to improve our retention and graduation rates," said Hemphill. "But we're also going to look at strategic enrollment growth."

Hemphill plans hold a series of listening forums for faculty and students.

In the fall, the administration will begin to form a new strategic plan for the university.