By Taylor LaVallie
The search is underway for the college’s 17th president as John J. Neuhauser has announced he will retire at the end of this academic school year.
While students may have questions and doubts about the process, Kellie Campbell, Associate Director of Information Technologies and member of the search committee, encourages the community to check out the presidential search page featured on the Saint Michael’s home web page.
The presidential search web page includes a prospectus, a timeline, search updates, and a space for feedback. The new president will be chosen by early in the new year and their term will start on July 1, 2018. Campbell says that “nobody is looking to compare to Jack [Neuhauser],” but that we are hoping to build off of his strengths.
Student Association President Sophie Adams ’18 said she has clear expectations for the new president. One thing she is looking for in a candidate is someone who values diversity and inclusion as an issue on campus, and someone who has the ability to tie the school together.
“This is our opportunity to really initiate change and come together as a community,” said Adams, stressing the fact that the search is heavily dependent on the voices of students and faculty.
Emily Ferreri ’19 of the women’s basketball team is the only student on the search committee and considers herself the “liaison” between the student body and the committee. Her role as of right now is to create an ad hoc committee of members from the Student Association and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and soon hopes to create a time open to the public for an open discussion to those who are interested.
Due to confidentiality and her position on the committee, she declined to comment on her specific expectations for the new president.
“We have a very robust pool of candidates,” said Mary-Kate McKenna ’80, chair of both the Board of Trustees and Search Committee. “We are looking forward to selecting a strong group to further interviews in the next few months.”
To see more information on the search go to college’s webpage and find the “President Search.” From there, the “Community Input” page can be found where students and faculty can submit questions and comments. Be on the lookout for announcements about student meetings and further articles in the Defender.