New College could name a new president next week

With the retirement of New College President Dr. Gordon Michalson effective in June, the school’s board of trustees is reviewing its notes regarding four finalists, with the possibility of announcing a decision next week, Linda F. Joffe, associate director of public affairs, said.

The finalists have attended private receptions on campus over the past three weeks.

Although five finalists originally were announced, one, Dr. Thomas Krise, dean of the faculty of arts and sciences at University of the Pacific, withdrew his name from consideration, Joffe reported.

The remaining candidates are as follows:

Dr. Gregory D. Hess
Dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs at Claremont
McKenna College, Claremont, Calif.

Hess has been with Claremont McKenna College since 2006. He has served as a professor of economics, dean of the faculty and vice president of academic affairs.

He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Davis and two graduate degrees in economics from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.

“I have devoted a great deal of my adult life to scholarship and teaching at top liberal-arts institutions,” Hess said in his application. “I have taught at undergraduate, graduate and MBA institutions in both the United Kingdom and the U.S. I have chosen to devote my career to the liberal-arts environment.”

Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith
Provost and academic vice president at Drew University, in Madison, N.J.

Gunter-Smith has been on the faculty at Drew University, a highly regarded, albeit small, private university in New Jersey since 2006.

She studied biology at Spelman College in Atlanta, where she served as biology department chairwoman for 10 years and held an endowed professorship. Following her term as leader of the Biology Department, Gunter-Smith was associate provost for science and mathematics.

In addition to her work at Drew, Gunter-Smith has held research positions at several high-profile national institutions and has served as program director for a number of biomedical research and undergraduate science education programs.

“These students and others I have worked with through the years know me as ‘Dr. G-S’, the professional title I most value,” Gunter-Smith said in her application. “I recognize the importance of having meaningful interactions with the students I serve and being mindful of the work of our institutions in transforming lives.”

Dr. Kevin F. F. Quigley
President and CEO of the National Peace Corps Association

Quigley has held the top leadership post at the National Peace Corps Association, based in Washington, D.C., since 2003.

He previously worked for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. Quigley also earned recognition as a Fulbright Senior Specialist.

He earned his doctorate from Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., while he earned masters degrees from Columbia University, in New York City and University College Dublin, in Ireland. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where he has served on the board of managers.

“Throughout my career, I have worked to cultivate transformative learning communities where individuals experience a richly personalized education rooted in the values of inquiry, personal responsibility, discourse, diversity and service,” Quigley wrote in his application.

Dr. Donal O’Shea
Dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs at Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Mass.

Dr. Donal O’Shea has been dean of faculty and vice president for academic Affairs at Mount Holyoke College, a top 25 private, liberal arts women’s college since 1998. He previously led sponsored research at the college and chaired the Mathematics Department.

O’Shea earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Harvard University, while he earned his master’s degree and doctorate from Queens College, Ontario, a prominent Canadian research university.
O’Shea points to the importance of liberal-arts colleges in his application.

“Future generations of students need the sort of education we provide, and the state, the country and the world need our graduates,” said O’Shea. “I can think of no more worthwhile and no more exciting job than helping New College of Florida survive and thrive as a place of learning and growth for generations to come.”