Dakota Wesleyan to make announcement concerning school president search
Nov. 29—Dakota Wesleyan University will have some news to share Tuesday on the search for the next president of the school.
Julie Brookbank, associate director for communication for DWU, confirmed to the Mitchell Republic that the scheduled press conference does involve the presidential search.
"It does indeed," Brookbank said. She declined to provide any specific details until the conference itself is held Tuesday.
The press conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Rollins Campus Center on the Dakota Wesleyan University campus.
The four-year private college has been searching for its next top administrator since Amy Novak, who served as president of the college from 2013 to 2021 and served even further back with the school in various other capacities, stepped down earlier this year to take the position of president at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Theresa Kriese, executive vice president of the university was named interim president until a new president could be hired.
Kriese also serves as a member of the 11-person search committee, a group composed of school administrators, faculty, alumni and students, charged with vetting candidates for the position, a process that has been underway since March. The school hired the professional search firm AGP Search to assist with the process.
The committee assembled a 21-page document outlining the specifics of what the school is looking for in its next leader. Including profiles on 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 them decide if they want to continue their career at DWU.
According to the DWU presidential search webpage, the committee in October had narrowed the list of candidates to three and was planning to schedule final interviews later that month.
Criteria for qualified candidates listed in that document include:
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Strengthen and expand the university's successful partnerships with regional businesses and industries.
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Build on the university's reputation as a leader in higher education innovation in support of the region it serves.
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Understand and embrace the commitment to Christian higher education in the United Methodist tradition and demonstrate a personal commitment to social justice and to living a life in service to others.
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Demonstrate a record of successfully building inclusive cultures with diverse constituents.
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Possess significant leadership and managerial experience, excellent fiscal management skills, and the ability to be a productive advocate for the institution, particularly in regard to potential philanthropic investors.
Presidential Search Profile by Erik Kaufman on Scribd
School officials said the committee and search firm would compile candidates for consideration, review those candidates and begin to draw closer to a selection. Campus visits for candidates were expected to be held in late summer or early fall.
Kriese said in June the committee and search firm both felt they were reviewing quality candidates.
There was no set timeline for the search process, Kriese said at the time, noting that a decision this important must be made with patience, study and care. Finding the right candidate is more important than finding a candidate quickly, she said.
"I think I can speak for the committee, for us, a successful search will be finding the right person for the job. The right fit," Kriese said. "We're all committed to the fact that it may take longer or shorter, but we don't want to rush anything important to make sure we have the right candidate."
When chosen, the new president will be the 21st president of Dakota Wesleyan University.
