The University welcomed the second of five candidates for the provost and vice-chancellor position to the campus this week.
Nancy Barrett, the current provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Alabama, spent Monday and Tuesday in several meetings and interviews with administrators and members of the provost search committee.
Barrett, who has served as provost both at University of Alabama and Western Michigan University, served as dean of New Jersey’s Farleigh Dickinson University business college. She also served on the faculty at American University in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday afternoon, Barrett introduced herself and answered a variety of questions in an open forum.
A room full of mostly faculty and staff members listened intently at the forum as Barrett explained her background and experience as an administrator and how she could better the University if she were selected as the new provost.
Barrett answered several questions specific to several audience members’ departments and jobs at the University. Question topics included Barrett’s views on the role of instructors, the importance of the sciences and the future of University libraries.
Barrett said her experience at Alabama has taught her how to be a better administrator.
“I like to think the provost office at Alabama is a place to come to get things done, not to be told ‘no, you can’t do it,'” Barrett said.
In her time at UA, Barrett said she has helped raise the University from tier three to tier one in university rankings.
Barrett said at UA, she made several strides to better the university’s environment for students, although many of these often go unnoticed by the student body. Barrett listed the networking of the residence hall computers and setting up the Student Success Council — a committee of students who advise her of students’ needs — as examples.
Barrett also discussed the role faculty and staff play in her job.
“The faculty have to be my allies, when dealing with the budget, especially,” Barrett said.
Barrett described to the audience how she has stayed in contact with the faculty senate at UA. She said this has helped her better the University.
The first provost candidate, Jasper Neel, from Southern Methodist University, visited campus last week.
Steven Hoch, the third provost candidate, will visit the University today and Thursday. Students, University faculty and staff and visitors will have the opportunity to ask Hoch questions in an open forum Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Life Sciences Annex Auditorium.