RADFORD -- Click, click, click.

It's a noise that administrators and staff in Martin Hall became familiar with last year.

Click, click, click -- the pace quickens.

It's the sound that Penelope Kyle's high heels make against the marble floor of Martin's third story, where Radford University's Office of the President is located.

Click, click, click -- faster still.

It's a sign of RU's new administration and direction.

"The staff have teased me a lot about the fact that I am always in high gear," Kyle said. "But they seem to like it. If they don't, they don't let me know."

On June 1, 2005, Kyle became Radford's sixth president in its 96-year history. She replaced Douglas Covington, who retired at 70 after leading RU for a decade. His walking style -- and leadership style -- were much more deliberate.

Kyle's first year was more exhausting and challenging than she anticipated.

A handful of high-level, longtime administrators departed, leaving her major holes to fill. With her frequent trips to Richmond to advocate for RU, many on campus don't yet know her well. Several students and professors said they would give her an incomplete so far, because they are waiting to see what will come of her labors.

But heading into her second year on campus, where classes begin Aug. 21, many are optimistic that positive change is coming to RU.

A quick study

Kyle arrived at Radford with little higher education experience, but with firsthand knowledge of state politics. She left a job as the director of the Virginia Lottery to become RU's first female president, at a salary of $261,001. The majority of her career has been in the private sector, not counting a stint as an assistant English professor.

Much of Kyle's first year focused on learning university business. Two months into her term, per a new state law, she had to complete a six-year plan with detailed information on RU's enrollment, finances and other data.

Mary Ann Hovis, rector of the RU Board of Visitors, said the challenge of creating the document allowed Kyle to learn quickly. Without the pressure to compile the plan, it might have taken longer to absorb the information.

"She really is a quick study," Hovis said.

Kyle extended her education in January by creating the Commission on the Future of Radford University, which is charged with writing a streamlined mission statement and strategic plan by December.

Through several commission meetings, Kyle has heard from faculty, staff, students, alumni and others about what they hope the institution will become. Kyle counts the formation of the commission, and its quick progress toward its goals, as an accomplishment.

Claire Waldron, the Faculty Senate president, agrees. She said the commission's focus on hearing from many voices is important and shows Kyle's willingness to learn how to make collaborative decisions.

"People in academia want to be able to give input, but I think they also want leadership," Waldron said.

Waldron also agrees that Kyle's other big accomplishment was to hire a provost. Because of her lack of experience in academe, Kyle decided to seek out a chief academic officer in the position of provost -- a post new to the university.

Again, Kyle allowed faculty members a large stake in the process. A majority of search committee members were professors. Once the committee formed, she did not meddle in its affairs, said committee chairman Paul Sale, who will leave this month to become provost at the University of Texas-Pan American.

Ivelaw Griffith, the former head of the Honors College at Florida International University, began his new job as RU provost in July.

Kyle has pledged to leave academics up to Griffith -- someone she credited with walking and moving even faster than she does.

A drive-about president

Part of Kyle's education also took place in her old haunt, Richmond.

There, she had to shift from being a revenue-generator to an expense item.

Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, said Kyle ably transformed into RU's advocate. She articulated Radford's strengths, and her knowledge of the intense competition for funding will only help the university, he said. All Virginia colleges saw budget gains for 2006-07, so it's unclear how much of Radford's 20.5 percent increase in state general funds is due to Kyle.

"Can you lay all that at her feet? I don't think that's a fair comparison," said Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg. "But I think it was the start for laying the kind of foundation for the long-term needs that Radford has."

Both legislators praised her vivaciousness.

Kyle's time in Richmond frequently kept her away from campus, making her more of a "drive-about president" than a walk-about one, in her words. The demand on her time may be one reason that her relationship with students had a rocky start.

Early in the fall semester, students believed she called for increased police presence near campus. More students received drinking-related citations than in years past. Some students even set up a Facebook.com group called "Radford's New President Sucks." Almost 1,000 students signed on.

When the library closed a few hours early before midterms for an alumni banquet, about 30 students, including some from the Facebook group, protested.

"We had [the police activities] going on, and we had a new president," said Ray Gunter, one of the organizers of the Facebook group. "We just kind of assumed that something was related between the two."

Kyle met with students in October and explained she had not spoken with the police. She apologized for the library closing. Radford police said the uptick in citations resulted from a grant they received to step up enforcement of underage drinking. Kyle also responded to other rumors.

"I think they think everything comes from the top. I think that's natural. I got blamed for everything that happened with the lottery, too," said Kyle, who believes her relationships with students are stronger now.

Gunter said communication with the president and all administrators became more open after October, once the Student Government Association created an online forum to air grievances and dispel rumors.

But many students still feel they don't know Kyle.

"I think most people still believe the rumors," said Kathryn Farrish, a rising senior. "I don't really know all that much about her."

Luke Rogers, a 2006 graduate, said Kyle's style with students is much different than Covington's. He ran into Covington at various campus events but said it seemed that students had to attend formal events to see Kyle.

"I don't think that's her fault. She's busy. She's a new president," Rogers said.

Kyle said she went to as many events as she could -- especially to cheer for Highlander sports teams.

She and the new SGA president have planned more events for her to interact with students this year.

As a reminder of the early tension with students, Kyle keeps on her desk a student cartoon. It depicts drunken students lounging in front of the library with the words "Students Against the New Radford" scrawled across the bottom.

Personnel challenges

Kyle's schedule is unlikely to become any freer, as she tackles private fundraising. That had been the bailiwick of Charles Wood, the former vice president for university advancement. Wood is one of a handful of top-level administrators who exited in the past year. Four of those departing staffers left with a combined 97 years of experience.

Kyle said her greatest challenge is the staff exodus, which has been especially difficult because longtime employees had taken on so many tasks over the years.

Waldron and Hovis agreed but said it offers Kyle a chance to build her own administration -- with people she knows and can grow with.

Kyle hired her first vice president in June. Donna VanCleave, a colleague from the lottery, joins RU as vice president for financial affairs this month.

Kyle insists she did not request the resignations but said the departures could have been an indirect result of her ascension to the presidency.

VanCleave's predecessor, David Burdette, said he left only because he could not pass up the chance to become a vice president at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The other three retired.

In addition to filling vacancies, Kyle has brought in several consultants and temporary employees. She said these appointments help avoid overburdening current employees while saving money in the long run. But they have caused some furrowed brows among faculty and staff, particularly because they don't know why some newcomers are here.

Waldron said Kyle should hire who she needs, but she cautioned that faculty members would like to know the purpose and scope of the temporary appointments.

"It is an issue if they end up being long term," Waldron said, "if they have more access to the president as outsiders than the people already here."

Hovis said she doesn't see the use of consultants reaching an excessive level and expects to see the number plummet when Kyle fills positions.

Among the other challenges Kyle faces, the constant pressure to be in several places at once is paramount.

It seems everyone wants to see more of her: faculty members, students, alumni, legislators, local officials and, of course, her husband and three children.

Kyle said she plans to reach out to other college presidents to find out how they divide their time.

Changes coming

Kyle hopes no one has made a final judgment on her yet. The year went quickly, and she still has much to do.

"I'm not getting the ship turned around as quickly as I would like to," she said. "We're making progress, but I hope it doesn't take us a long time to make this progress."

She said she is energetic about the future. With Griffith, she expects to see academics "popping." She hopes to see the academic profile of incoming students climb as a result of work with an admissions consultant.

Soon, she will have her leadership team in place. And she anticipates changes in athletics, an area the board has asked her to investigate.

The board expects great things from her in all areas. For now, though, her superiors are happy.

"If we would choose the president again, I feel strongly that we would say yes," Hovis said.