As a fast-paced search draws to an end, three finalists for the new provost position will come to Baker University’s campuses for on-site interviews over the next two weeks.
University President Pat Long said she would make the final decision the week of May 14. The provost hired will begin prior to Aug. 1, depending on the new provost’s availability.
Professor of English Preston Fambrough, co-chair of the search committee, said the search produced more than 60 applicants. From there, the pool was reduced to 14 candidates, whose references were contacted. After another cut, eight candidates were granted off-campus interviews April 19 and 20 in Kansas City, Mo.
“It was a grueling two days but at the same time a very satisfying, exciting two days,” Fambrough said.
Fambrough said the size and quality of the applicant pool met and perhaps exceeded the expectations of the search committee, especially considering the short time frame for the search process.
“We are doing in one semester something that usually takes a full academic year, so a very efficient timeline had to be established,” he said.
Associate Professor of German Cynthia Appl said the quickness of the search was aided by the guidance of Harold Kolenbrander, a consultant from Academic Search, Inc.
“I think it’s going very well,” she said. “I would say the process of our consultant was very constructive. I think due to his planning and organization, the process went very smoothly.”
The pool has now been reduced to the top three candidates, and each has ties to the area.
“I think it was a coincidence that they rose to the top. We tried not to look at where each person was from,” Long said. “I’m really pleased with the three finalists.”
Each interview will last two days, with the candidate starting at the College of Arts and Sciences the first day and splitting the second day between the school of nursing in Topeka and at the Baker University School of Professional and Graduate Studies and at the School of Education in Overland Park. Each candidate will conclude the on-site interview with a meeting with Long.
The first finalist, Charles Lane, will arrive in Baldwin City Sunday, with an open reception to be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at Collins House.
Lane, who grew up in western Kansas, is a professor and chair of the department of geology and environmental studies at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. Lane previously served as associate provost, interim provost and curriculum director at SOU, which is the third university he’s worked at during his academic career.
The second finalist, Randy Pembrook, will arrive Tuesday shortly after Lane’s departure. He will spend the next two days with the same schedule, including an open reception from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Collins House.
Pembrook has worked as dean of the Conservatory of Dance and Music at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and as the dean of the Conservatory of Music, where he works now.
The final candidate, Robin Bowen, will arrive in Baldwin City May 8 and spend May 9 and May 10 visiting the campuses. Her open reception will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 9 at Collins House.
Bowen has worked as the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., and currently works as dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies.
Long said the purpose of the on-site interviews is two-fold, allowing the campus community to see the finalists and for the candidates to see the Baker environment.
“Now, it’ll be how these three work with the campus and what happens on campus,” she said.
As provost will be a new position on campus, Long said she’s still looking to define the position fully based on the candidates’ strengths.
“Because this is a new position and we’re feeling our way through, this person and I have to be in concert about our mission,” she said. “I’m looking for a strong leader who is a consensus builder, who has high integrity, who can see the university as a whole and the academic needs as a whole, and I’m looking for a strong academic.”
Long said the position of provost is often seen as the internal equivalent to the university president, who is the external face. Though Long said she plans to dedicate more time to off-campus fundraising once the provost begins the position, she still intends to maintain contact with Baker’s campuses.
“This is one of my most important hires since this is a new position. I think we’ll be choosing a person that’s flexible with just a little ambiguity at this point,” she said. “Two initiatives, I think, are really important for the provost to look at right away. The first is retention, and the second is the admission criteria on this campus.”
Long said the incoming provost will benefit students by allowing more fundraising efforts and by creating a position that focuses solely on academics.
Senior Frank Owens, the only student on the search committee, said he learned a lot during the process and thinks the provost will be good for the university.
“I didn’t know what a provost was, but I’ve got a pretty good idea of what it is now,” he said. “What I think they’re trying to do is getting a little organized. With a provost, you get one person over one area.”