PAINESVILLE -- When Michael Victor took over as president of Lake Erie College three years ago, enrollment was down, contributions were down. Just a few years earlier, the small college's survival was in question. 

For most of its 153 years, Lake Erie had been a women's liberal arts college. Even when enrollment was opened to men in the 1980's, it was primarily a women's liberal arts college.

What to do?

"This college needs a football team," Victor said, and last year, the Lake Erie Storm played its first varsity season of NCAA Division II football.

"Football immediately brings 130 new male students to campus and adds related activities that contribute to campus life," Victor said.

"There wasn't really much going on here when I started four years ago," said senior student Ben Reed, of Middlefield. "Now the atmosphere's really changed."

Since Victor became president Lake Erie, enrollment is up over 20 percent, the college has been named an outstanding small college in the midwest by both U.S. News and Princeton Review, and the college just completed a $17 million fund-raising campaign, its most successful ever. 

Michael Victor was a successful businessman before assuming the Lake Erie presidency.

"I decided to do good things and give back, and I always wanted to be a college president," Victor said. "When you combine a business background and a passion for educating young people, it's the perfect combination for a college president.

Under Victor, Lake Erie College has undertaken major expansion of course offerings, is constructing a new science building, and has added Equine Entrepreneurship to its internationally recognized Equestrian Studies program.