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After getting a new building this semester, UNM’s College of Education is expecting a new leader, as the University has begun a national search for the college’s dean.
Amy Wohlert, interim director of the School of Public Administration, has been appointed by Provost Chaouki Abdallah to head the national search committee.
Wohlert said she has been planning the search with the provost since August, and the committee has been meeting since mid-September. She said the University has been advertising the position online for national academic institutions.
“We’re now in the phase of accepting nominations and applications,” she said. “The best consideration date is Nov. 15. Of course, it will be open until filled.”
Although the University has received applications nationally for the position, Wohlert said her committee expects to receive more applications as the deadline approaches. She said UNM would also consider applications from inside the campus.
Wohlert said people could also nominate qualified candidates for the position by submitting a name and contact information to the committee.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to think about the kind of leader they would want to have in this position,” she said. “If they know of someone who they believe has the qualifications, send nominations. Normally, the kind of person who would do this job has to be enticed. If the right person asks them, they’ll be more likely to apply.”
Wohlert said qualified candidates should have a Ph.D. in education, should be a tenured professor or associate professor and should have a minimum of three years of supervisory experience.
Additionally, the committee looks for somebody with a record of partnership and collaboration who understands education in New Mexico and “who understands the research that our faculty do.”
“This is a high-profile search,” she said. “The University wants to do something different that has a national and international impact in terms of teacher preparation. But we also have a huge College of Education with a variety of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and we want to make sure that we get the right person to lead every one of those programs.”
Wohlert said a subcommittee would review applications to ensure they meet minimum requirements as they are received.
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Wohlert said the committee plans to review applications toward the end of the year and to conduct phone interviews by January. The committee also plans to come up with a short list with “fewer than 10” candidates by early spring.
After the committee comes up with a short list, Abdallah would have the last word on who will snag the position.
Abdallah said he aims to hire a dean by next summer.
“(Candidates) will meet with the faculty, staff, students, administrators and other campus and external constituents,” he said. “Based on the feedback I receive, I will negotiate with one of the finalists with the intent of having a dean in place by July 2014.”
Abdallah said that because UNM’s College of Education is critical to the state, the national search would play a large role in improving the future of the University.
“Like every dean search, this is an important search,” he said. “UNM seeks a dynamic leader for the broad, multi-year effort of re-visioning our college of education. This position will draw on and reward the ability to lead through collaboration with faculty, staff, and university administrators, as well as the ability to understand and support New Mexico’s rich … diversity.”
Wohlert said she is excited about finding a new colleague through the national search.
“This is an opportunity for us to have an impact on education, which, of course, is at the heart of New Mexico’s future,” she said. “We already have very strong programs and very dedicated faculty members. We’d like to lead them in the right directions.”
