What is Dakota Wesleyan University searching for in its next president?

They have homework to find the university’s 21st president following the departure of Amy Novak, who announced in February that she would be leaving school to take the presidency at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

It is a considerable process to find someone to run a school like DWU, said Theresa Kriese, executive vice president and interim president of DWU. She is also a member of the President’s Search Commission. But in the end it is about finding the right fit between the candidate and the school that has positioned itself well in recent years to move into the future of higher education.

“The university is well positioned. We have a confident financial position and we had a previous leader who was innovative and we are already starting to break some innovative trails. We’re looking for someone who can build on that, ”said Kriese. “Higher education will change. We are looking for someone who understands that this landscape is changing. “

The search committee – an 11-person team consisting of DWU alumni, administrators, lecturers and students – began hiring a professional search company AGP Search back in March. This was a necessary first step in order to attract a large number of interested quality candidates.

The company has the resources to conduct such a search and specializes in the higher education field. It has the reach to search across the country, as well as an understanding of the social and academic culture of the Midwest, which Kriese said is important in finding a candidate who would connect well with DWU and the community.

“They are looking for administrative positions in higher education, not just presidents. They also have a regional flair. They understand the South Dakota region, ”said Kriese. “The national search gives us national attention, but it is important that they understand the culture of our region.”

The committee also compiled a 21-page document setting out the details of what the school is looking for from its next director. With profiles about the school itself, its history and some of its future goals, the document is not only a way for the public to see how the search process works, but also a way for candidates to get a quick feel for the school and help too make it up to you to decide whether you want to continue your career at DWU.

“(The document) is very well done and gives people a lot of important information,” said Doug Powers, chairman of the DWU board of trustees and another member of the selection committee. “We thought it was good for everyone, but it’s really good for the candidates. You don’t have to ask a lot of questions. “

The document lists the characteristics of a successful candidate as those that:

• Strengthen and expand the university’s successful partnerships with regional companies and industries.

• Build on the university’s reputation as a leader in university innovation to support the region it serves.

• Understand and accept a commitment to Christian higher education in the United Methodist tradition and demonstrate a personal commitment to social justice and a life of service to others.

• Demonstrate successful building inclusive cultures with diverse constituents.

• You will have extensive leadership and management experience, excellent financial management skills, and the ability to be a productive advocate for the institution, particularly with respect to potential philanthropic investors.

A college background is certainly an asset, Kriese said, but the panel throws its nets wide and would consider strong candidates from other settings, such as business, if they see fit.

“I would say that the candidate needs to understand higher education, much like a hospital manager needs to understand medicine, even if he is not necessarily a doctor. That doesn’t mean that a person can’t come out of the business world and be successful, ”said Kriese. “There used to be a direct route to the university president – from teacher to dean, from provost to president. That is no longer necessarily true. “

A strong connection to the faith aspect of the school is also an important factor for the candidates.

“We are a faith-based institution and they have to accept that,” said Kriese.

The document also allows the school to present itself to potential candidates and outline their academic programs, campus and history. Kriese said whoever takes on the office of the next university president will find a school that has solid foundations and is ready to take the next steps into the future of higher education.

– Theresa Kriese, Executive Vice President and Interim President of Dakota Wesleyan University

“We are ready to move the university forward,” said Kriese. “We are agile in a way that other institutions are not. We have staff and faculties who have lived under the leadership of innovation and movement. We did things much faster than our peers, and higher education is known for how slow it moves. “

The next few months will be a quiet time for the search committee as the search company continues to bring candidates for examination. When the committee begins reviewing these candidates, the process begins to reduce them to a small handful. Since the summer months are the main holiday season for many university members, the committee expects this work to begin sometime in August or September. Later in the year, they hope to arrange campus visits for the top selections.

Kriese declined to say how many candidates have been identified or how many inquiries the school has received about the position, but said discussions between the committee and the search firm indicate they are hearing from qualified candidates.

“I have the feeling that we are on the right track,” said Kriese.

Once the committee has its finalists, the process includes receiving input from school and community members before making a final decision.

The search will take as long as it takes, she said. Ultimately, the committee is more concerned with finding the right candidate for the position than with finding one quickly. If that only takes a short time, great. If it takes a long time, it is time well invested in finding a manager who can meet DWU’s needs now and in the future.

“I think I can speak for the board, for us a successful quest is to find the right person for the job. The right fit, ”said Kriese. “We’re all committed to the fact that it can take longer or shorter, but we don’t want to rush anything important to make sure we have the right candidate.”

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