Committee member: Regents to choose provost soon

The vacant provost position should be filled around Thanksgiving break, according to Dr. Hamner Hill, chairman of the search committee.

The search continued with four candidates each visiting Southeast Missouri State University for two days from Nov. 4 to Wednesday.

The search began in the spring, when the committee designed a position description and received a pool of about 60 applicants with the help of a search firm, according to Hill. The committee narrowed the list and interviewed eight candidates at the St. Louis airport. They then chose four finalists, Hill said.

The finalists are Dr. Jeffrey Morin, Dr. William Eddleman, Dr. Larry Daniel and Dr. Gersham Nelson. Eddleman is the only candidate working at Southeast, as vice provost and dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

During their visits, the candidates met with students, faculty, deans, executive staff and a real estate agent to tour the area and housing options.

"Each candidate has pretty much a set schedule," Hill said. "They meet with various constituents on campus, and it's a mutual feeling-out process. We're just trying to get a better understanding of who they are, and they're trying to get a sense of 'If I was offered this position, do I really want this job? Is this the right school for me at this time?'"

A survey will be available for feedback from the community. In addition, the committee will meet, determine whether any of the finalists are unsuitable for the position and submit the remaining names to university President Kenneth W. Dobbins for him to choose whom to hire, Hill said. The final decision will be made by the board of regents.

"We found four individuals who all seem to understand who we are and what we can be and would want to move in those directions," Hill said.

Hill said the candidates have varied backgrounds.

"We got somebody from the natural sciences, somebody from the humanities, somebody from education and somebody from the fine arts," Hill said. "That's a nice wide array of interests by the provost candidates."

Hill said although the candidates have different backgrounds, they had what the committee members were looking for, including high-level administrative experience, familiarity with accrediting agencies and a university vision compatible with Southeast.

Daniel has been an educator in some form for 34 years and has spent the last 10 years as the dean of the College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida.

Daniel worked at regional universities throughout his career, noting they all have had compass directions in their name. He attributed his gravitation to these universities to their focus on what is going on locally and their ability to engage with the community.

"I honestly see that Southeast Missouri and Cape Girardeau offer a lot for someone who is very interested in the connection between university and community," Daniel said.

Morin has been dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for the last nine years, where he also teaches graphic design.

"I really liked the mission of Southeast and the size of the institution as well," Morin said. "The university has done amazing things over the years and has really been able to support programming in a very positive and proactive way."

Morin added he also enjoys institutions that get a lot of first-generation college students because he was the first in his family to go to college.

Nelson is the dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Central Missouri.

He was drawn to the effort Southeast makes to keep education affordable for students and its commitment to community development.

Nelson was struck by the River Campus, because it represents an effort by the university to contribute to the community, he said.

"I think everybody on the committee is very happy with the four people we're bringing to campus," Hill said.

Pertinent address:

1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.