The second dean of students finalist returned to Athens Sunday after six years away, hoping for a new job — and a hot dog from O’Betty’s.
J. Malcolm Smith, assistant dean of students at the University of Illinois at Chicago, spoke with 14 OU students during a forum Sunday evening.
Smith received a bachelor of science in elementary education from OU in 1997 and a master’s degree in college student personnel in 1999.
“It’s exciting to be back to OU,” Smith said in an interview. “Trees are blossoming, and being back at my alma mater is amazing. Also, being considered (for the dean of students position) is an honor.”
Smith also served as interim director of University Judiciaries at OU from 2005 to 2007 before moving to his current position in Chicago.
“I left for professional and personal reasons,” he said. “I was on the verge of getting married, so there were many possibilities. Professionally, it was the next step for me to go to Chicago.”
Forum attendees asked Smith how he would reach out to students and increase diversity at OU.
“It’s not fair to compare diversity,” he said. “We need to recognize not just the structural diversity, but the diversity of thought.”
Smith spoke about topics on which students and administrators agree.
“I think there needs to be a balance of both,” he said. “Primarily, I would be a student advocate and make sure that students’ voices are heard.”
Joel Newby, a graduate student studying political science running for Graduate Student Senate president, attended the forum.
“I think this really shows that the search committee found two great candidates,” Newby said. “I’m really excited to see and meet our third and last finalist.”
The other candidates are OU Interim Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones and Greg MacVarish, associate vice president of Student Affairs at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.
OU’s Vice President for Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi, who will hire the dean of students, said the most difficult part of the search will be making a choice.
“I’d like to see more students come out,” he said. “Their feedback is very important. I really think they enjoy talking to the candidates.”
MacVarish’s students-only forum is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the fifth-floor atrium in Baker Center.
During Smith’s forum, one student asked if he hoped to be at OU for the long haul or if he would use the dean of students position as a stepping stone.
“I’m here for the right reasons,” he said. “I’m here because I love Ohio University. I’m looking at Peden. … This will always feel like home for me.”
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