Finalists named in provost search

The College of William and Mary is one step closer to naming a new provost.

A search committee charged with reviewing applicants has announced three final candidates for the position of provost, which opened after current Provost Geoff Feiss announced last June that he would retire at the end of the semester.

The three candidates for the position are Tom Apple and Havidan Rodriguez, both of the University of Delaware, and Michael R. Halleran of the University of Miami.

The provost search committee, co-chaired by Chancellor Professor of Sociology Katherine Slevin and Gottwald Professor of Business Ronald Sims, was formed in October 2008 at the request of College President Taylor Reveley. In December, the committee began accepting applications from around the nation. According to Slevin, there were 69 candidates total, out of which the three final candidates were chosen.

“[The three] had the types of experiences and the profiles that best fit William and Mary’s needs,” Slevin said. “[They have] suitable breadth and depth of administrative experience, appreciation for William and Mary’s uniqueness, [and a] vision for the future of William and Mary.”

Tom Apple has been the dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Arts and Sciences since 2005. Prior to that position, Apple held the title of vice provost for administration, dean of graduate education, and professor of chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. He also holds a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Delaware. This past week, Apple visited the College to participate in a faculty forum.

Havidan Rodriguez joined the faculty at the University of Delaware in 2003 as director of the Diaster Research Center and as a professor in the department of sociology and criminal justice. In 2006, he was promoted to the position of vice provost of academic affairs and international programs. Before arriving at the university, Rodriguez has also held several academic and administrative positions at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, including interim dean for academic affairs. Rodriguez holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is scheduled to attend a faculty forum today.

Michael R. Halleran joined the University of Miami in 2005 where he currently holds the position of dean of the college of arts and sciences. Halleran earned his M.A. and doctorate degree in the classics from Harvard University. Prior to his time at Miami, Halleran was a faculty member at the University of Washington, where he was chair of the department of classics and divisional dean of arts and humanities. Halleran is scheduled to visit the College and attend a faculty forum later this month.

The provost search committee consists of 17 members. In addition to faculty, there are two students appointed to the search committee. The only undergraduate student on the committee, Katherine Ball ’09, declined to comment on the selection of the three finalists.

All faculty forums are held in Andrews Hall and are open to faculty and students. Online candidate evaluation forms are available on the provost search committee’s page on the College’s website.

Slevin is hopeful that faculty and students alike will approve of the new provost when he is recommended to Reveley this coming April.

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