Professor Wayne Glausser and the other 11 members of the search committee for the new Vice President of Academic Affairs met for the first time this past Wednesday at The Elms, home of President Brian Casey.
Glausser, an English professor, was named the head of the search committee this August. He and the other members will look for a replacement for DePauw's current Vice President of Academic Affairs David Harvey, a chemistry and bio-chemistry professor, who has been in the position since the 2009-2010 academic year.
The committee spoke over dinner with Casey and two members of Isaacson, Miller, a prominent executive search firm for not-for-profit organizations, about the qualifications and characteristics the university is looking for in the new vice president.
Glausser declined to comment about what qualifications the committee is looking for in a candidate before the meeting began. But did emphasize that there will be an "open discussion" with the entire committee to create an accurate profile for Isaacson, Miller.
Alan Wishley, vice president and director at Isaacson, Miller, will use the conversation, an eventual write-up from the committee, to create a "developing position profile" to mount a passive and active search for candidates across the country. He said the organization will advertise the job opportunity and contact individuals in senior leadership positions for possible recommendations.
The firm will produce 50 to 100 candidates by January, of which Wishley said 30 will have been considered seriously. From there, Casey and the committee will conduct "airport interviews" with six to 10 candidates.
That number will be whittled down again, and a handful of individuals will be invited to campus during the spring semester for a final round of interviews.
Glausser said he expects a decision to be made by this spring, with the new Vice President starting in the summer before the '13-'14 academic year.
Glausser did emphasize that the final decision does belong to Casey, as the new candidate will be a "crucial partner in [Casey's] work."
The committee is comprised of nine faculty, two staff members and one student, senior Arezoo Nazari.
Nazari was nominated for the position and said she is excited for the opportunity.