It has been more than a year since the Office of International Programs has had a permanent executive director, and the search for a candidate for the position continues.
The University is performing its second search for the position, now under the title of dean of International Programs, since the death of executive director Stephen Lucas in May 2006.
The first search began three months after Lucas died, said International Services Office director Natalie Rigby. She said there was an offer made in January of this year, but it was not accepted.
“That’s when the first search came to an end – unfortunately, not a positive end,” Rigby said.
Rigby said she does not have the authority to release neither the name of the candidate who turned down the offer, nor the reason.
It was not until this semester that architecture professor, Ken Carpenter, who could not be reached before press time, took over as interim director of International Programs, a position he holds until a new dean is chosen.
Guillermo Ferreyra, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and chair of the search committee for the position, said after many discussions with faculty and several committees, Provost Astrid Merget added academic responsibilities to the position. Merget, who also changed the title of executive director to dean, could also not be reached before press time.
Both Ferreyra and Rigby said the new academic-centered position will change the role of International Programs within the University.
“It will involve developing academic programs, new courses or new parts of courses and how these courses will be integrated into different majors,” Ferreyra said.
And the credentials are higher.
“The push is for someone with a Ph.D. in addition to administration experience,” Rigby said. “Someone who could operate with other deans.”
Ferreyra said the position has been vacant for this long because of the added job requirements.
“It’s a difficult position to fill because what’s required is experience as an administrator for a very specific type of program,” Ferreyra said. “For example, it involves knowledge of immigration rules for U.S. visas for international students and faculty.”
Rigby said the nature of the search is another reason for the lengthy vacancy. The search will be advertised nationally through the Chronicle of Higher Education, a national weekly journal about universities through which the University has found candidates for positions in the past. Ferreyra said the journal will feature the advertisement for the position this month.
The advertisement explains the University is searching for a candidate who “articulates the vision and goals for augmenting international programs in colleges and schools across campus” and who “enhances the role of the Office of International Programs in providing support for international activities.”
The deadline for candidates to apply is Nov. 10, but Rigby said if a suitable candidate is not found by that time the search will continue.
—-Contact Olivia Hernandez at [email protected]