As STLCC-Meramec nears the end of its first semester, the ball has started rolling in the search for a permanent replacement for Interim President Zerrie Campbell.
Kurt Oberreither
– Staff Writer –
As STLCC-Meramec nears the end of its first semester, the ball has started rolling in the search for a permanent replacement for Interim President Zerrie Campbell.
Public involvement will begin with two public forums that will be held at noon and 2 p.m. on Nov. 22.
“The public open forums are for anyone who would like to contribute to what the Meramec community is looking for in a president,” Campbell said.
To aid Chancellor Zelema Harris, the board of trustees and the search committee, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), a non-profit organization, has been employed.
“The organization has been hired to facilitate the process. They’re not making the selection, they’re helping people to go through the process,” Campbell said.
ACCT Vice President for Research, Education and Board Leadership Services Narcissa Polonio, Ed.D., has been put in charge of guiding the search at Meramec. Polonio will be at the forums to hear students’ ideas and help the search committee form a profile for a national presidential search.
“It’s key for people to attend the forums because that’s really what we use to design the profile,” Polonio said. “The more people we hear from the better.”
According to Campbell, the ACCT is used to maintain neutrality in the process of finding applicants.
“You have someone who has a very objective point of view and who’s focused on process not on personality,” Campbell said.
The committee will sit down with Polonio following the town hall meeting. “From those two forums she will then have a meeting with the committee that same day, and they’ll take all of the input and craft it into a position,” Campbell said.
Beyond the public forums student body president Kristen Huyett, will represent the students directly on the search committee. She was the only student selected to be on the committee and said she’s excited to be involved.
“I like meetings. I’ve asked the student government for input, and I’ve gotten input from other students,” Huyett said. “I’ll take that with me to the committee meetings and represent the students.”
In late November, a profile will have been constructed and the presidential opening will be advertised. It won’t be until spring that the new president will be announced.
“This kind of stuff shouldn’t be done very quickly,” Huyett said. “You should take your time and really make sure you’re making a good choice about who you want as president.”
Campbell said that, while she must remain out of the search process, she will meet with the final candidates so they can ask her questions about the role.
“I’m just kind of keeping the seat warm, making sure that there is a presidential presence until a permanent person is identified,” Campbell said.
Huyett said it’s important that students stay involved.
“I would really encourage students to think through what they want in campus leadership. The public forum is a really great way to have input with the kind of environment and the kind of leaders that we have on campus. If there’s enough people that go and say the same thing, they will take notice of what we say.” Huyett said.
