The search for a new provost and vice president of Academic Affairs continues, despite recent difficulties, as three candidates visit Geneseo this month for consideration.
Although three finalists visited campus in February, the candidate to whom the position was initially offered declined it. In spite of this setback, search committee chair Wendy Pogozelski said the three candidates visiting this month are "really excellent."
"We're very lucky that we had a very strong and deep pool [of applicants]," said President Christopher Dahl, noting that he hopes to ultimately select the new provost by the conclusion of this semester. Whoever takes the position will officially assume office on July 1.
Veronica Makowsky, currently the vice provost for Undergraduate Education and Regional Campus Administration at University of Connecticut, visited campus last Thursday and Friday. A first generation college student, Makowsky advocated taking the SOFIs offline and back into the classroom and said she was dedicated to increasing Geneseo's visibility as an honors college within the SUNY system.
Carol Long, dean of Willamette University's College of Liberal Arts, visited Geneseo on Monday and Tuesday. In her letter to the search committee, Long said she is attached to the strong community service mission that Geneseo espouses and looks forward to building local, national and international partnerships with the college.
The final candidate, William Clyde, is the vice president for Academic Affairs at Queens University of Charlotte. He will visit the campus later this month. In his letter to the search committee he said he believes Geneseo is "an institution with a rich history, a compelling mission and vast potential."
When candidates visit the college, they partake in a rigorous schedule of tours, meetings and forums with a wide variety of representatives from the college community.
David Gordon is serving as the interim provost currently; former Provost Katherine Conway-Turner left the position at the conclusion of the fall semester.