Hocking College is in the process of its first presidential search and the selection committee is working to narrow the more than 75 applicants down to three or four finalists toward the end of this month, said Alan Geiger, chairperson of the Presidential Search Committee.
The Presidential Search Committee - made up of 27 members who are faculty, staff, deans and community members - met Monday and concluded that they will meet March 20 and identify three or four finalists for the position, Geiger said. The finalists will then visit the campus in April and a decision will be made by spring 2009, Geiger added.
We've got a good process
a good pool of candidates and everyone is excited about finding someone who can suit Hocking College Geiger said.
The presidential search began Feb. 15 and Hocking College is still accepting applications. Geiger said that they were not releasing the names of the current 75 candidates, but they would release the names of the top three or four candidates when they decide.
The Presidential Search Committee outlined characteristics that the future president must have, such as academic leadership, internal collaboration and communication, management skills and community involvement, Geiger said.
The thing that makes this search different from a school like OU's is that Hocking is a two-year college so we are looking for people who have experiences in those types of environments Geiger said.
The Board of Trustees hired David Ponitz as a consultant for the Presidential Search Committee to help narrow down the applicants. Ponitz, who has helped with about 70 presidential searches around the country, will choose about 15 top candidates based on the criteria the search committee decided, Ponitz said.
Even though Ponitz is assisting the Presidential Search Committee with the presidential search, it is the committee's responsibility to make the final decision, Ponitz said.
The current president, John Light, will retire June 30 after 42 years at Hocking College, Geiger said. Hocking College has never had to hold a presidential search before because Light, the former vice president, was asked to step up to president when the previous president left.
The committee is very enthusiastic and committed and they care about the college moving forward
Ponitz said. The community should be very proud of their efforts.
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Sarah Beth Hensley
