Saint Xavier University’s School of Education is currently seeking a new dean after former dean Beverly Gulley has left the School of Education this past fall. The search for the new dean is still in its early stages and Saint Xavier has begun an aggressive effort to search for the best qualified candidates.
The search committee for the new dean consists of President Christine Wiseman, Provost Paul Devito, and faculty members from the School of Education. The university has posted a link on their School of Education homepage directed at prospective candidates.
As for the timeline of the search, what we know so far is that applications will begin to be reviewed this March and the position is aimed to be filled by this July. The position is going to remain open until filled by the chosen candidate.
The candidates for the position, according to the PDF file on the School of Education webpage, are expected to, “be a visionary, energetic, and inspiring leader with integrity and strong communication skills to motivate and manage change and to advance the academic excellence of the school and the university.”
These qualities are not alone the sole expectations of a prospective dean, the candidate is also expected to build unto the successful Saint Xavier School of Education program, which includes, “High quality online programs that have the potential to grow regionally and nationally.”
The university distributed PDF also states specific areas of focus for the prospective dean for the School of Education. These areas include strategic planning/leadership, collaboration, enrollment, technology, and strategic management/acquisition of resources.
With all these areas being a focus for the next dean, it appears of paramount importance that the school does its due diligence in its search for the new dean.
In terms of how many students on campus feel about the search, current junior and elementary education major, Marissa Melvan, had her views on the search. Marissa Melvan stated, “The dean should relate to the students here and assure that we are receiving a proper education to teach in a vastly changing career.”
In addition to Ms. Melvan’s views on the search for a new dean, current junior and secondary education major Stephanie Naegele had her own expectations for the new dean. Ms. Naegele believes that the new dean should be, “capable and highly qualified, possessing all of the dispositions
that the school of education requires of its candidates so that he or she can adequately prepare students for the pursuit of excellence.”
The theme between the two students’ remarks appear to be that the next dean should be able to accommodate to the student and help them excel.
The potential candidates for the position have yet to be named at this early stage, but the enticing experience of working as dean for one of the Chicagoland area’s most prestigious teaching programs will surely be enticing to many qualified candidates.
Jake Alleruzzo
News Contributor
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