Author: Emery Desper
A question and answer meeting for students to voice their concerns regarding the search for a permanent Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs was held in Occidental College’s Green Family Dining Room on Branca Patio Friday, September 7.
The meeting was intended to inform Oxy students as well as gather their feedback. “The purpose of the meeting, as well as similar meetings with faculty and staff, was twofold. The search committee wanted to explain to students the search process and to hear their views on the role of the Dean in student life,” Professor Robert Ellis said.
During the meeting, students were introduced to the new Dean Search Committee, which is comprised of 13 members. Professor Ellis will serve as Chair of the Committee and Vice President of Witt/Kieffer search firm Jean Dowdall will work as the committee’s consultant. Dowdall has much experience as a search consultant, having served as a dean for many years and helped to conduct several dean searches.
According to Witt/Kieffer’s website, the search firm is “a national, retained executive search firm” that aids in searches conducted by health care, education/not-for-profit and corporate/insurance/managed care companies. Dowdall is one of 60 consultants who work for Witt/Kieffer.
Other committee members include Professor Mary Christianski, Professor Amy Lyford, Professor Andre Myers, Professor Movindri Reddy, Professor Eileen Spain, Student Representative Jessica Simes, Trustee Cathy Pepe, Dean of Students Barbara Avery, American Studies Services Coordinator Nancy Grubb and Director of Enrollment Management Systems Brett Schraeder.
Students at the meeting told the committee members that they are looking for people who value equity and are well rounded. Students did not want the new dean to have been a lifelong bureaucrat and would like him or her to have good public speaking skills. It was also important to students that the new dean make him or herself well known to the student body.
In addition, students also wanted the new dean to be actively working, and come to the College with a vision. “The most interesting thing about the meeting was the fact that many students present, including myself, did not understand the actual job of the dean we are looking to hire. It was good to learn about [the] job description, and also to get the chance to contribute to it,” Rosny Daniel (junior) said.
Dowdall explained that the search process will consist of drafting a description of the position; aggressively recruiting candidates; conducting preliminary interviews and background checks; and obtaining references. The final three candidates will visit the campus sometime in late April or early May.
Dean Eric Frank has served as the College’s interim Dean since September 1, 2005, when he took over for Kenyon Chan. Chan left Occidental to become the new chancellor of the University of Washington, Bothell. Before serving as Dean of the College, Dean Frank served as Chair of the Department of Art History and Visual Arts. He is currently responsible for the curriculum, fiscal distribution to each department and the direction of the college’s academic reputation.
Ellis explained that the new search is not connected to Dean Frank’s performance, since he was never meant to be the permanent Dean. He is, however, allowed to apply for the position.
According to Dowdall, the future dean will be responsible for strategic academic planning, which means that he or she will be required to improve the College’s academic reputation by enhancing different departments on campus and offering something that is unique to Oxy.
While students will not be allowed to know the identities of the candidates being recruited for confidentiality reasons, they will have a say in regards to the finalists who are brought to campus.
Though students will not be making the final decision, the committee plans to make use of student contribution in the process. Jessica Simes (junior) said she “hopes that more students get involved in the search because it truly affects everyone.”
When asked how he thought the meeting went, Ellis was optimistic. It went very well,” he said. The finalists are expected to be on campus around April and, according to committee members, student participation is strongly encouraged.
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