Five candidates for Kutztown University President will be visiting campus for open forums, meetings and tours.
Three out of the five candidates have been announced, Dr. Carol Bresnahan, Dr. Lorrie Clemo and Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson. The remaining candidates will be announced Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.
The search process for a new president began in the summer after former President F. Javier Cevallos resigned in spring 2014. Cevallos is now President at Framingham State University in Massachusetts. Last spring, the KU Council of Trustees named Dr. Carlos Vargas-Aburto KU’s acting president. Dr. Vargas previously served as Provost and Vice-President Academic and Student Affairs, according to Matthew Santos, Kutztown University Relations Director.
Jack Wabby, chair, Presidential Search Committee, announced that “the search committee has selected five presidential candidates to bring to KU for meetings and forums with all of our campus constituencies.”
“Candidates will meet with students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members during their two-day visits. Feedback will be collected on each individual after their visit,” wrote Wabby in his announcement to the campus community.
The visitation schedule for each candidate can be found on the Presidential Search website at http://www2.kutztown.edu/Documents/Announcements/Candidate1.pdf.
“I encourage you to attend the appropriate forums and be active in this vital process,” writes Wabby.
Candidate 1Dr. Carol Bresnahan has been serving as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rollins College since July 2011. She is a tenured Professor of History at Rollins College since 2011. Other positions have included Provost and Executive Vice President at The College of New Jersey; Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Policies at the University of Toledo; American Council on Education Fellow and Visiting Scholar, Office of the Chancellor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Chair of the UT Faculty Senate; and Chair of the Department of History at UT.
According to her letter to the Kutztown University Presidential Search Committee, “My career represents strong commitment to what the President Position Profile calls dedication to “the mission of public education” and advocacy “for the important social and economic role the University plays in the region and the state… These experiences, plus my work as provost at private Rollins College, have provided me with the skills called for in the President Position Profile, including experience with collective bargaining, collaboration, appreciation for shared governance, leadership, planning, fiscal prudence and fundraising. I concur in the “Declaration of Metropolitan Universities” that learning, research and engagement must be “responsive to the needs” of the community, encompass the “development of creative partnerships” and make the “fullest possible contribution” to culture (and to Pennsylvania).”
Schedule of Visits: January 26 & 27 (after press deadline)
Candidate 2Dr. Lorrie Clemo has been at State University of New York at Oswego since 1988. Positions have included Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chief of Staff & Deputy to the President, Assistant to the President for Special Programs & Campus Communications, Faculty Fellow to the President, Director of Public Administration & Policy Program and Assistant/Associate Professor in Department of Political Science.
According to her letter to the Kutztown University Presidential Search Committee, “It would be a distinct honor and privilege to serve the Kutztown University community with its tradition of success and renowned commitment to education. I too have an unbounded conviction to provide transformative education and inspiration to others, especially those most in need. This conviction, manifested in a lifetime of personal, civic and professional experiences has led me to apply for this exciting opportunity. I am keenly interested and feel exceptionally prepared to lead Kutztown University. I am a dedicated educator and proud leader of a diverse, comprehensive university steeped in first-generation college students, many of who are underserved, underrepresented, low-income, or first-Americans. I have worked to create a community that derives our strength and vitality from each other and from promoting the common good.”
Schedule of Visits: January 28 & 29
Candidate 3Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson has been serving as Provost and Academic Vice President at Western Illinois University since 2012, and previously as Interim Provost July-December 2011. Other positions include Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Budget, Planning, and Personnel, Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, Department Chair of the Department of Communication and Professor of Department of Communication.
According to his letter to the KU Presidential Search Committee, he writes, “I have vast experience in the development and evaluation of academic programs, have ably managed an $85 million academic affairs budget during very difficult budgetary times, actively participated in our recent capital campaign (raising $63 million). I have a long history of leadership and collaboration in higher education having served first as a faculty leader, to my current role as provost, wherein I work with our faculty senate and union leadership on a weekly basis. I have been a leader not only in strategic planning, but also strategic thinking. I have demonstrated a strong commitment to a liberal arts education as it provides the foundation for personal and intellectual growth while understanding the need to invest in professional programs in the areas of greatest job growth in our country.”
Schedule of Visits: January 30 & 31
Also Schedule of Visits February 4 & 5 for Candidate 4 and February 6 & 7 for Candidate 5, who will be announced Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.
For more information, visit the Presidential Search website at http://www2.kutztown.edu/Documents/Announcements/Candidate1.pdf.
