The search for the new Dean of Civil, Global and Professional Opportunities has been narrowed down to three candidates.
The search committee selected Dr. Helen Damon-Moore, Dr. Rajesh Bellani and Dr. Andrew Stelljes as the final three candidates for the position.
The process started with employing a search firm to aid the university in securing leads. Of about 30 leads DePauw selected five to come interview in Indianapolis last week. Finally they narrowed the pool to the three current candidates.
"We are looking for someone who can be very articulate of the importance of experimental learning and who will work well with the people here," said David Harvey, vice president of academic affairs and professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
The position of Dean of Civil, Global and Professional Opportunities, or CGPOPS, was created to condense the three offices into one. The three separate departments used to report to the dean of academic affairs. Now there will be one dean for all three departments.
Combining the three fields is something that makes DePauw unique compared to other universities in the country.
"What entices them is something new. Almost no other university has combined these three positions," said Doug Harms, professor of computer science and a member of the selection committee.
Candidates were selected because of their experience in the fields of civil, global and professional opportunities.
"All individuals have a variety of experience and functional experience in as many of these areas as possible," Harvey said.
The three candidates all bring a unique combination of civil, global, and professional experiences to DePauw, while also having managed a college of a similar or larger size.
"They have ideas of where this could go and that's what I was impressed with," Harms said. "They are someone who can provide vision for the whole department-to help locate funding."
The three remaining candidates are all currently employed by other institutions. Damon-Moore is the Director of Service and Educational Programs at Dartmouth College, Bellani works as the Rhode Island School of Design Associate Prevost and Dean of Students and Special Assistant for International Activities and Stelljes is the Director of Community Engagement and Executive Assistant Professor of Education at the College of William and Mary.
"The problem with the pool is they are all three very well employed. They are all very happy in their current positions," said President Brian Casey.
Harvey said that there are a number of reasons why currently employed people want to look for new jobs: Current job coming close to ending, internal instability in their current institution and wanting to have more upward mobility.
The search committee ultimately only makes a recommendation. Casey makes the final decision on whom to hire.
"They understand the complexity of DePauw and the world the students are going thorough - jumping around from jobs, not just working with one corporation," Casey said.
Harms hopes the committee will reach a decision within the next week. Doing so will provide the candidate to make the transition from their previous position into DePauw, and allow for them to begin working over the summer.
"All three are remarkably experienced, and all three are remarkably excited. I mean that quite seriously. I'm very excited about the candidates," Casey said.