Source: The Xavierite
Interim President Rebecca Sherrick, Ph. D., is leading Saint Xavier University’s search for a new president following the departure of former president Laurie M. Joyner, Ph. D. in July.
Sherrick shared that the university hired a consulting firm called Academic Search over the summer to find a presidential candidate to fill the vacancy permanently.
She added that after being hired the firm started meeting with and interviewing members of the university in order to see what traits they desire in a future president.
The “Mercy Matters” newsletter sent to the university community on Sept. 19 includes a link to the university’s “Presidential Search” page, where information about the search so far and the presidential position profile can be found.
Information regarding the university’s strategic direction, the university’s finances, and all other background information a potential candidate may need to know is also included.
The webpage displays that Academic Search met with university stakeholders, including Faculty, Staff, Administration, and Student representatives on Aug. 29 and Aug. 30.
On Aug. 30 an initial meeting of Academic Search and the Presidential Search Committee was held to give introductions, a review of the Search Committee’s tasks, and discuss the desired characteristics and priorities of the next president.
These desired characteristics cover attributes such as “A unifying, relational leadership style marked by transparency, frequent and effective communication, visible presence, genuine engagement, and effective conflict management”.
Arlene Silva, Vice President of the Student Government Association(SGA), stated that while SGA is unsure of what their role in the Presidential Search will be, what they are looking for in the university’s next president “is a President who shows true interest in the experience students receive here at SXU.”
Silva added that SGA is hoping for a candidate who will “prioritize the needs of students posed by the voice of the students which is us as part of the student body. Student perspective should be an important factor to the President when decisions are made.”
The next step of the presidential search process is for Academic Search to begin contacting and meeting with potential candidates.
The five to six weeks following Sherrick’s interview on Sept. 21 will be about generating a candidate pool for the presidential position, more specifically the month of October.
Sherrick expressed that the university could begin screening candidates as early as November.
“We wanted to be first. We wanted to get out there early to get the very best pool of candidates and to have a big group to choose from. And not to be, you know, doing this initial advertising in November/December when people are thinking about other things” expressed Sherrick.
Sherrick currently fills one of the many positions labeled as interim at the university, though she does not see it as a problem despite acknowledging that sometimes it may feel like one.
She affirms that she looks “at it in a different way than Dr. Joyner did and in a different way than the person who follows will.”
Sherrick voiced that an interim can be a source of new energy but can also make people feel like they are on hold.
She expressed that “over time you’ll see that we’ll begin to fill positions. But some of it will wait til there’s a new president. Because a lot of times you want the new president to hire his or her team.”
As the university is located in a major metropolitan area and has a lot to offer students, faculty, staff, and administration, Sherrick is hopeful about the search.