After the completion of three dean searches — one of which will need to be repeated — last year, Ohio University is ringing in the new year with three more national searches for positions needing to be filled.
At the top of the list is the search for a dean for OU's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, which began in December.
The provost's office is also in the process of finalizing a search committee for the vice provost of E-learning and strategic initiatives position, and will accept applications for the position of associate provost for academic affairs, planning and policy until the end of February.
Jack Brose, current dean of OU-HCOM, announced in September that he will be retiring as dean July 1 through OU-HCOM’s faculty early retirement program.
“This job has so many things to do; it’s definitely multi-faceted,” Brose said. “It’s a fun job, though. I will really miss it.”
Starting July 1, Brose will serve as senior executive director for health services and special assistant to the executive vice president and provost, said Ann Fidler, chief of staff to OU Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Brose said. “I love change; I thrive on it. I’ve loved being dean, but the thought of doing something new is exciting.”
Benoit's office is using R. William Funk and Associates for the search to replace Brose — the same search firm used for the Scripps College of Communication and College of Arts and Sciences dean searches.
Benoit chose to use the firm because of its experience in finding replacements in the medical field, Fidler said.
The firm will begin to review applications in the first two weeks of March and will conduct airport interviews in the last two weeks of March. The finalists will be announced in April.
The search should be completed in early June, and the new dean will begin at the start of the fiscal year.
Fidler cited the recent $105 million gift given to OU-HCOM from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations and the resulting projects as a draw for the new dean.
“There are pretty exciting opportunities (at OU-HCOM),” she said. “The college is going places, and (the dean position) a perfect job opportunity.”
Dan Evans retired as executive dean of regional higher education and vice provost of E-learning and strategic initiatives, at the end of last year. OU-Zanesville Dean Jim Fonseca has been filling in for the position since Evans' retirement.
Martin Tuck left the formerly named associate provost for academic affairs position last June to serve as interim dean at OU's Chillicothe campus — replacing former dean Donna Burgraff. Tuck previously told The Post he might apply for the permanent OU-Chillicothe dean position and did not have firm plans to return to the position in the provost's office, which has since been restructured and renamed.
The search for the OU-Chillicothe dean won't begin until next year, Fidler said.
The searches for vice provost of E-learning and strategic initiatives and vice provost for academic affairs, planning and policy are expected to be completed July 1, Fidler said.
Sara Jerde contributed to this article.
