Joanna Orban
Staff Writer
A nationwide search for a new dean of students is expected to conclude this month with the hiring of a new dean.
The search that began in Fall 2019 has been narrowed down to five final candidates, including ISU director of Alumni Relations Ryan Sargent. The other four candidates are James Dalske, Sean Blackburn, Chris Summerlin, and Craig Chatriand who all visited the Pocatello campus throughout January hosting open forums. In that time, they met with students as well as the hiring committee and other campus professionals.
The hiring committee is made up of eight professionals from several different areas of the ISU campus, some of whom are ISU alumni. The committee is chaired by Dr. Caroline Faure, a doctorate in education as well as the NCAA Faculty Representative for ISU.
Led by Faure, the committee narrowed down the initial pool of candidates several times before selecting the current five.
This process has been a difficult one according to Todd Johnson, the Director of Veterans Student Services who is also serving on the hiring committee.
“You have to look at who will add the most depth and breadth to the role,” said Johnson. “Dean of students is a very, very important role.”
On Jan. 13, one of the candidates hosted his open forum in the Bengal Theater. The presentation went over his vision for ISU.
Blackburn said, “In terms of vision it really is about transforming student lives. That’s why we’re here, that’s what we do.”
Blackburn’s previous position was at the University of Wyoming where he served as Vice President for Student Affairs.
The current dean of students, Kris Clarkson, is retiring at the end of March.
Clarkson has been with the university for five years, through many different phases of the university’s history, including the hiring of President Satterlee and the marketing changes that occured last fall. His role on campus has expanded and changed as the needs of the university have changed.
“It has been wonderful working at ISU for the past five years – challenging, but thoroughly enjoyable,” Clarkson said. “I hope and trust the new dean will be student-centered and will work with faculty and staff to make a difference in students’ lives.”
The new dean of students will have a role that is different and expanded from Clarkson’s role as dean, thanks to a redesigning of the position. Faure said, “We really want to turn the dean of students position into a real advocate for students, a liaison for students.” However, even though the role is different, the new dean will be the face of the student support system on the ISU campus, much like Clarkson was.
For most students, the dean of students is a distant figure, one that brings to mind disciplinary actions and conduct concerns. However, the new dean will have duties that go far beyond such tasks, much like their predecessor.
“The students should definitely pay attention to this. If we do our job right as a search committee the experience for students will change for the positive at Idaho State. This is definitely a person that the students should pay attention to,” Faure said.
According to both Faure and Johnson, the main focus of a Dean of Students is to be student centered. “We’re looking for the best possible fit for the future of ISU,” said Johnson.
With such a diverse pool of candidates and many different skill sets, the hiring committee has a lot of work to do to hire the new dean. A final decision should be announced by the end of the month.
“We want to change the experience for students at ISU and this person will help us do that,” said Faure.
