Three hopefuls for the dean of students position will now prepare for key upcoming forums to determine their future employment or promotion at Ohio University.
Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student Affairs, announced Thursday afternoon that three finalists were selected for the vacant dean of students position. The candidate chosen will enter the position on an annual salary between $89,987 and $156,235.
“Our initial conversations (with the candidates) were about an hour long,” Lombardi said. “The next step is for them to spend a day on campus, so that we can get to know them better and see what strengths they can bring to the position.”
Open forums will be held over the next two weeks to answer any questions students and faculty may have, Lombardi said.
“Student input is critical in this decision,” he said. “I’ll also receive feedback from colleagues; however, the students’ voice will be very important to me in making this decision.”
Jenny Hall-Jones
The current interim dean of students, Jenny Hall-Jones, said she was excited upon being notified of her selection as a finalist.
“I look forward to meeting with students and finding out what really matters to them as well as figuring how the Division of Student Affairs can better serve them,” Hall-Jones said.
She graduated from Ohio University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and criminology and received a master’s degree in college student personnel from OU in 1997. In 2011, she received a doctor of philosophy in higher education administration from OU.
J. Malcolm Smith
J. Malcolm Smith is currently the assistant dean of students at the University of Illinois at Chicago, but he is also an alumnus of OU and said he applied immediately after the position opened.
“I feel nostalgic,” Smith said. “I spoke with my wife, and we thought Athens was a wonderful place to raise our child. It’s a wonderful place to serve the students, and knowing what they need is critical.”
Smith received his Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 1997 and his master’s degree in college student personnel in 1999.
Greg MacVarish
Greg MacVarish, associate vice president of Student Affairs at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, said he was looking forward to visiting OU and expressed his love for the Mid-West.
“I was very pleased to hear about my selection as a finalist,” MacVarish said. “I know how important this position is to Ohio University, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue the conversation.”
MacVarish earned a Bachelor of Science in management from Keene State College in New Hampshire and his master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University in 1988.
Lombardi said he anticipates making a decision on the new dean before the end of the academic year.
hy135010@ohiou.edu
This article has been updated to include Jenny Hall-Jones' most recent degree.
