YOUNGSTOWN — Capri Cafaro has resigned her position on the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees, nearly five years before the end of her term.

Cafaro, a professor at American University in Washington, D.C., and a former Democratic state Senate minority leader who represented Trumbull County from 2007 to 2016, was appointed to the nine-year term by former Gov. John Kasich in June 2017.

The YSU Board of Trustees called a special meeting Oct. 25 to address the recent steep decline in enrollment and the possibility of program cuts. Cafaro said she informed President Jim Tressel in person of her intent to resign after the meeting.

YSU spokesman Ron Cole confirmed she sent an official letter of resignation to Tressel, Gov. Mike DeWine and Trustee Anita Hackstedde on Oct. 27.

“Due to my teaching schedule as well as two internationally based visiting fellowships, I do not believe I can give the time necessary to serve the board at the level the work deserves,” Cafaro wrote. “I am honored to have been a part of the YSU board since 2017 and remain committed to the success of the university.”

Cafaro said it is a well-known fact that she recently has voiced her concerns and raised questions about the administration’s approach to reorganizing academic programs. YSU officials recently announced the proposed elimination of 26 bachelor’s, master’s and associate’s level programs in order to gain financial stability. The programs expected to be cut have little to no students currently registered, but the administration has received negative feedback from both students and members of the YSU Ohio Education Association.

She said she continues to have concerns, but her resignation is based on an attendance requirement put in place by the Ohio Revised Code.

“My teaching and fellowship schedule, as I said in my written resignation, is prohibiting me from being present in person at upcoming board meetings, which I must attended due to Ohio Revised Code requirements on attendance,” she said. “So, I thought it was more responsible for me to step down.”

Board Chair John Jakubek said in a statement Cafaro’s participation and insight as a member of the board has been “invaluable” and she will be missed.

“We thank her for her work and dedication to YSU and our students,” Jakubek wrote.

Cole said the governor will make the appointment to fill Cafaro’s term, which expires in June 2026.

lnickel@tribtoday.com