Kent State’s Trumbull campus announced its three top candidates to fill the dean and chief administrative officer position Sept. 23 and the candidates made their presentations this past week.

Candidates J. Michael Tyler, Ph.D., Melinda Schlager Arnold, Ph.D. and Sheldon Wrice, Ed.D. have been chosen as the finalists in the search to replace Interim Dean Daniel Palmer, Ph.D.

The candidates presented their thoughts for an audience of staff and students over Microsoft Teams. Denise Seachrist, dean and chief administrative officer at the Stark campus and chair of the committee in search of the new dean, moderated each meeting and relayed questions from the audience to each candidate. 

Each presentation discussed the candidate’s approach to a series of issues given to them by the search committee, including challenges facing higher education and how the candidate would solve those for the Trumbull campus.

J. Michael Tyler presented Tuesday, while Melinda Schlager presented Wednesday and Sheldon Wrice presented Friday.

The search for a new dean was announced to the student population by Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley at the end of January 2020. The position was meant to begin July of 2020 but will now start Jan. 1, 2021.

Megan McSweeney covers administration. Contact her at [email protected].

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