Ohio University will spend more than $50,000 seeking Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith’s replacement.
OU President Roderick McDavis has appointed a search committee and is in the process of contracting a search firm to aid in the selection of a new vice president for Student Affairs. Smith will leave June 1 for the presidency of Langston University in Langston, Okla.
Smith received a three-year contract starting at $220,000 a year from Langston. He makes $205,842 at OU.
The 13-member search committee will be headed by Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost, and will include students, faculty members, administrators and trustees.
“(McDavis) looked to identify a good cross-representation of people who work either in Student Affairs, or work closely with Student Affairs or students,” said Becky Watts, McDavis’ chief of staff.
McDavis hopes to avoid the need for an interim and plans to fill the position by June 1, Watts said.
OU will pay the Spelman & Johnson Group, based in Easthampton, Mass., $56,661 to assist the search committee in identifying applicants for the open position. Watts estimated Smith’s replacement will make between $170,000 and $215,000.
Student Senate President Kyle Triplett will be one of student representatives on the search committee.
“I think it’s a very, very important search committee as far as the student experience is concerned at OU,” Triplett said. “I’m really fortunate to be on it and happy to be on it. Whoever ends up in Dr. Smith’s position, they’re going to have some pretty big shoes to fill.”
Although Smith was not appointed to the search committee, he said he will be available to help if he is asked.
“(McDavis) wants to get the best candidate for students and for Ohio University, and I respect that,” Smith said. “My commitment to him is that if there is any way that he wants me to help or to be involved, that is up to him, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help the search to be successful.”
bv111010@ohiou.edu
