Ron Abrams’ working class roots coupled with real world experience make him uniquely suited to lead Mansfield into a new era of growth and prosperity. Born from humble and difficult beginnings, Ron got his first taste of adversity at the young age of nine, when his father unexpectedly died in an automobile accident. By the age of thirteen Ron was working to help support his mother and four siblings. He worked in greenhouses and other manual labor, eventually becoming a machinist. Although not afraid of hard work, he didn’t have as much confidence in his academic ability. A teacher, Mr. Caryer, took an interest in him and encouraged Ron to pursue a college degree. Despite a somewhat rough start, Ron eventually completed not only his undergraduate degree, but later his doctorate, ascending to leadership as a university president.