The presidential search for a new leader of the University has been underway since it was announced that President Casey would be leaving DePauw at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Casey will become the new president of Colgate University in July 2016.
While the confidentiality of the applicants prevents excessive amounts of information being revealed about the search, the progress is still important for students and faculty to note.
According to an email sent out on January 11th of this year by Kathy Patterson Vrabeck, DePauw trustee and the head of this search, interest in the position has been strong. The committee has now narrowed down the list of the first-round of interviews, which were set to take place at the end of January.
The committee’s goal will announce a list of finalists early this year and subsequently, the new president this spring. This committee is made up of 18 individuals including four DePauw professors, ten members of the board of Trustees, students, administrators and Vrabeck.
The University has also obtained student feedback about what they are looking for in a new president through student leader meetings. In these meetings, students in leadership positions throughout the University compiled students’ opinions about what qualities the new president should possess.
Paige Powers, a senior who attended one of these meetings, reflected on the experience.
“It was clear that the leaders of the search committee really wanted our genuine feedback and our views of where and who DePauw would be in the future with the next President,” Powers said. “It was awesome to be a part of a group of some of the best student leaders at DePauw, discussing goals and aspirations for the school and characteristics the next President would have.”
The committee is searching for someone who not only fits the attributes students are looking for but also has the qualifications that will make him or her successful in being responsible for all areas of operation, including student success, management of staff and faculty, investments and budgets, facilities, enrollment, alumni relations, fundraising, marketing and public relations.
Once the committee has narrowed down the list of potential candidates, they will present their recommendations to the Board of Trustees, who will ultimately choose the new president of DePauw.