Article by Zoebelle Bean, News Editor
On Monday, March 18, an email from the Office of the President was sent out to all students, faculty, and staff about an opportunity to meet the three finalists for the position of Aquinas College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. There were three community presentations: Monday in the Wege Ballroom, Thursday in the Donnelly Center, and Friday in the Wege Ballroom, all taking place from 12:30-1:15 p.m.
Prior to each presentation, the candidates had an opportunity to eat at Wege with members of the selection committee and Student Senate representatives, and at the conclusion of the presentation, walk a tour of the campus with an admissions representative.
On the day of each presentation, an email survey was sent out prior to the session, asking the community to give feedback on what they experienced concerning the particular finalist. The surveys were only open for 48 hours after each presentation. Each email with the survey also had the candidate’s CV, or Curriculum Vitae, for the general public to view concerning the candidate’s experience in academia.
Due to the confidential nature of the search and selection process, anyone attending these sessions was asked to keep the names of the Provost finalists secret. Thus, these candidates will be referred to as Finalists One, Two, and Three based on the day of their presentation.
Finalist One has a Bachelor’s in Chemistry and a Ph.D in Inorganic Chemistry and has maintained thirteen years in an administrative role, most notably serving as Provost, at Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Finalist One claimed, “to try to bring additional prestige, adding graduate programs can add interest from potential students, so we grew out Masters programs.”
In relation to the role of a Provost in turbulent times at a college, they answered that Provosts must look toward careers that haven’t begun yet, preparing students to be leaders of things that haven’t been invented. Not only that, but it’s important to make sure the faculty is prepared to teach these things. How the Provost supports the faculty is essential to ensuring that they have the time for professional development so they can stay current in their discipline.
Finalist One is active in many professional organizations and local community organizations, including Iota Sigma Pi, Catholic Charities, the American Chemical Society, and the Terre Haute Symphony.
Finalist Two graduated from Aquinas College and has been a Provost at Lourdes University for twelve years. Their Ph.D is in social work and they have a love of the evaluation of human behavior.
Finalist Two believed that it’s important to stay connected as a Provost during turbulent times. A Provost to them was someone who listens; they must have regular meetings, make a pattern, and verify that individuals have been heard. Not only that, but physical change must be made in response, including succession planning so when people leave, their positions can be filled when they’re gone. Building partnerships without overextending, wearing hats, and multi-tasking in the midst of a struggle is important to leading in turbulent times.
Finalist Two also began a video-podcast that allows them to connect with both faculty and students and keep everyone engaged. It’s both quirky and humanizing, allowing open communication for everyone on campus.
Being involved in a Franciscan University has allowed Finalist Two to keep one critical value with them: reverence. They believe that they can take this value to Aquinas College because a community based around faith needs reverence both inside and outside the classroom to maintain the core values of the faith-based institution.
Finalist Three is a professional mathematician and the President of the Faculty Assembly at Morningside University.
They stressed that, “students are the heart of why we’re here, they’re the core of what an institution like ours does.”
During turbulent times, in 2020, Finalist Three had to make the decision to recall students from study-abroad programs, and they don’t think higher education has slowed down since then. Thus, they want to make progressive solutions before problems happen. Embracing new technologies, finding an institution’s niches, and keeping the state of the college at the front-and-center of every conversation is crucial to maintaining a happy college despite adversity.
Finalist Three said that professional funds for the faculty and having the ability to explore and meet with other institutions professionally is what drives the integration of staff and faculty. Bridging disconnects is also a struggle but Finalist Three said that they’re open to student-governance and their door is always open. Inviting them to events will ensure that they’re there and overcommunication is impossible- anyone willing to listen makes for a good relationship.
Each Provost Finalist offered a unique position on how to attend to a college in turbulent times. The decision for a new Provost will come in the next week, pending approval from the search committee.
Featured Image courtesy of Joel Masson, 123RF
The Saint 