Following growth in the Office of Civic, Global and Professional Opportunities over the past year, President Brian Casey announced at the Faculty Institution Aug. 15 that the university will seek a dean to head the office.
Casey said the office has achieved a lot thus far, but will have greater success with an individual to lead them.
"We have found their strengths, but I think it's too much for one person to manage it, so I think that by having someone sit up there now managing these offices they might find more energy, more possibilities for programming, more funding," Casey said.
Casey said Vice President for Academic Advancement David Harvey and Dean of Academic Life Pedar Foss are working to decide exactly what the position will encompass and what characteristics they will seek in a candidate.
He said that as of now Harvey and Foss are deciding whether they would prefer an individual with a background in academics or career administration for the position. Casey said the pool of applicants and their skills will likely shape the scope of the position.
Assistant Director of Professional Opportunities Erin Mahoney said the directors of the Civic, Global and Professional Opportunities offices are not currently active in the search for a new dean but will be when more serious candidates emerge.
Mahoney said the need for the position highlights the growth of the Office of Civic, Global and Professional Opportunites.
"It means that we're doing something right," Mahoney said. "They're hoping to make our section bigger."
Casey said he hopes to hire more directors to each of the offices and to create more post-collegiate opportunity programs, but that the university's current lack of finances forces a delay to his plan.