College of The Bahamas (COB) presidential candidate Dr. Olivia Saunders suggested yesterday that while the other candidates may be perceived to be able to generate more money for the college because of their international ties, she is just as capable of raising and managing funds for the institution.
Saunders, a professor in the School of Business at COB, addressed the college's stakeholders during an open forum.
She is one of four candidates shortlisted for the position, and the third person to make their bid to garner the support of COB's stakeholders.
Asked for specifics about her plan to raise funds, Saunders responded, "The idea of money will always come up, especially for a candidate like myself because there is a tendency to feel that those who worked abroad will have greater capacity to raise money.
"And I will say to you what I said to the senior team this morning, for me it is about the nuts and the bolts, and money goes to value. "And I think we must build our value and we will attract the money."
Presidential candidate Dr. Philip Carey, who addressed the college more than three weeks ago, pledged to raise $500 million for COB over the next 10 years if successful.
Carey, a full professor of sociology and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University, said the money would be raised by creating a system-wide capital development fund campaign.
However, Saunders said there is no "magic bullet" to raising capital and the leader of the college must be able to steer the college as well as raise funds.
"My strategy initially is to bring value, to have this institution seen as a place where you can get value for your money, first and foremost," she said.
"I believe there are [scores] of Bahamians, residents and people who love this country, who would like to bring resources into this institution, but we must be ready to receive."
Saunders, a former team leader of the University Transition Secretariat and former dean of business, suggested that her intimate knowledge of the college makes her an ideal choice for president.
She pledged to create a five-year strategic plan for the college as it transitions into university status, but did not outline any specifics of that plan.
"I would like to think that we will be developing our plans together," she said. "My plan is your plan. "...How are we to move this institution forward, is not a decision for any one person or any small group of people so called at the top.
It is for the entire community. "Because if it is not a part of you in your professional life, you are not going to be committed to it."
Other candidates include Dr. Rodney Smith and Dr. Gregory Carey. Both men currently hold administration positions in the United States. Smith, a former COB president, will visit the college on March 1.
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