Krendl told 10TV News that she feels at home. She also went to college at a small liberal arts school, just like Otterbein. The Westerville college also has a history of inclusion that she said is making her presidency a good fit.
"We have a majority of women students," Krendl said. "We had women on the faculty from the day we opened in 1847. Our first two graduates were woman."
SPECIAL SECTION:
Female Focus
Krendl said that she wants to provide strong leadership and build on the college's history.
"I would like for people to think that -- in the 21st century under the first woman president -- that we sort of reclaimed that identity of a progressive institution," Krendl said.
She said that she hopes to make Otterbein a national player.
"I want to be known as a nationally competitive, clearly identified institution with great ambitions," Krendl said.
The idea excites some women students, 10TV's Tracy Townsend reported.
"We have a leader who's a woman now so I think we're going to be better able to relate to how she does things," said Allie Pulos, an Otterbein student. "It will be easier to talk to her, I think."
It's a great thing," said Tanya Wilhite, an Otterbein student. "I think it's going to open up new doors and new opportunities for the campus that we might not have had before."
Both Columbus State and Kenyon College have their first and only women presidents. Val Moeller is president at Columbus State and Georgia Nugent presides over Kenyon.
