While the Presidential Search Committee begins to move forward with their process, another search committee has just begun. On Sept. 16, the Provost Search Committee led by Professor Jermaine Singleton finalized the prospectus with the Academic Search team. The team hopes to post the position and begin recruitment by Oct. 1.
Although these searches are happening simultaneously, the teams specifically chose to stagger the dates so the newly appointed Hamline president would be involved in the semi-finalist Provost interviews. Until the finalist interviews, the names of the provost candidates will remain confidential. During the finalist in-person interviews, slated for Feb. 2025, the Hamline community will have the chance to engage with the candidates and provide formal feedback to the committee.
The search team is led by Singleton and consists of professors Letitia Basford, David Davies, Janet Green, Paula Mullineaux, Samantha Snyder Cakir, Director of Disability Resources Steve Anderson, University Registrar Gwenn Sherburne, Human Resource Consultant Derek Cotton and senior Emmett Frett.
Frett was directly recruited by Interim President Kathleen Murray for his position on the Academic Search team and has been one of the few students who showed vocal interest and passion about the search.
“Honestly, I feel like no other students have been interested in [the Provost Search], when I’ve talked to them about it, I have not really gotten a ton of people being like, wow, this is what I want. So I haven’t gotten much feedback from other students.” Frett said.
However, a lack of student feedback has not stopped Frett from being involved in the discussion and discovering key traits that he and the other committee members desire in their candidates. The provost currently serves as an important figure on campus. With the new Chief Academic Advisor, there comes a greater span of responsibilities that require some highly desirable traits for the officer position.
“To position Hamline as a leader in student-centered education, we seek a Chief Academic Officer with a proven track record of innovative program development. This visionary leader will spearhead and unify curricular and co-curricular reforms, fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment.” Singleton said over email.
With this shift in position, there is a big hole left behind on Hamline’s campus. Current Interim Provost Andy Rundquist has been in the Hamline community for 25 years, starting his career as an assistant professor of physics and ending his time at Hamline as the interim Chief Academic Advisor. With the loss of Rundquist, there are valuable traits and histories left behind. In addition to his long-spanning career as both a faculty member and administrator, he has been playing with the Hamline Wind, Jazz and Orchestra Ensembles as well as joining the Pep Band on game days.
“I don’t know [Rundquist] very well at all, but every year during move-in, since I’ve been a part of Res Life, he’s helped move people in every year. Just from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., he’s just moving boxes for new students.” Frett said.