Faculty impressed with candidates

After two weeks of exhaustive interviewing and four provost candidates picked apart, the faculty consensus spoke highly of the applicants’ caliber.

Richard Rubin, director of the School of Library and Information Science, said the open faculty forums helped each candidate to display their strengths through fielding questions. He said each candidate was thoughtful, reflective, articulate and informative.

“I thought the forums were very interesting,” he said. “I think the candidates exhibited qualities of what a good provost is.”

Wayne Munson, director of the School of Exercise, Leisure and Sport, said he’s unable to decide what candidate was best for the position of senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. He said it was interesting for him to “see such high quality individuals” applying for the position.

“I think all of them were very experienced individuals,” he said. “They were all very personable. I think all of them could make a good provost.”

Rubin said the most important part of the open faculty forums was the candidates drawing from their experiences to answer extensive questions. He said their willingness to admit when they did not have knowledge on a given topic “shows signs of a good candidate.”

President Lester Lefton will have a difficult time deciding who is right for the position, Rubin said. He said it would have to come down to who “fits” Lefton the best.

“I thought each of the candidates were distinctive,” Rubin said. “I think the president will have a broad range of talents to choose from. Each of these candidates brought with them different strengths and I don’t think there was a winner.”

The search committee for senior vice president of academic affairs and provost is expected to submit its recommendation to Lefton by Feb. 15.

Contact academic affairs reporter Kevin Kolus at [email protected].