Trinity Launches Search for Chief Academic Officer

A national search for Trinity University's new vice president for Academic Affairs is underway following Michael Fischer's recent announcement of his decision to make this his last year as vice president for Student Life. A search committee of faculty members, a staff member, a student, and a member of the University's Board of Trustees has been appointed to evaluate and recommend potential candidates.

The vice president for Academic Affairs oversees all academic programs, the development and mentoring of faculty, and implementation of the University's strategic plan Trinity Tomorrow and the Pathways curriculum. The vice president also serves on the president's executive staff. “Trinity is looking for an academic leader who will be an advocate for the effective integration of the liberal arts and sciences with the professional programs, both graduate and undergraduate,” Trinity University President Anderson said.

Academic Search, Inc., which assisted Trinity in the search for the 19th President and vice president for Advancement and Alumni Relations, has been selected to assist in the search for the University's next chief academic officer. Academic Search has more than 35 years of experience conducting higher education searches. R. Stanton Hales will serve as senior consultant to this Trinity search.

As one of its first tasks, the search committee finalized leadership characteristics that form the basis of the position profile and announcement. The position announcement will begin appearing this week in several national higher education publications, including the Chronicle for Higher Education and on the website of Academic Search, Inc.

"We are seeking an individual who has a distinctive record as an accomplished and energetic teacher, scholar, and administrator, especially a person who has experience at an institution similar to Trinity University" said Diane Smith, professor of Geosciences and chair of the search committee.

The committee has established an aggressive timeline over the next few months that includes a period of recruitment of potential candidates and evaluation of nominations, first- and second-round screening interviews, and campus visits by finalists. Inquiries, nominations and applications will be treated in confidence and should be sent electronically (MS Word form preferred) to: TrinityUVPAA@academic-search.com. Questions and comments can be directed to Dr. R. Stanton Hales, Senior Consultant, Academic Search, Inc., rsh@academic-search.com, 707-545-2203.

Members of the search committee include:

Diane Smith, Search Committee Chair, Professor and Chair, department of Geosciences and Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate
Elizabeth Ward, Professor and Chair of Art & Art History
Ruben Dupertuis, Associate Professor of Religion
Alfred Montoya ‘03, Assistant Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Brian Miceli, Associate Professor of Mathematics
Angela Breidenstein '91, Professor of Education
Justin Doty, Director of Domestic Recruitment
Brenna Hill, Student
Katherine Klinger '72, Board of Trustees, Alumna
Danny Anderson, Trinity President, ex-officio

Vice President Michael Fischer announced on Nov. 16, 2015 that he wanted to devote the next phase of his career to his teaching, research, and writing. Under his 16-year leadership as the University's chief academic officer he streamlined academic affairs and created more direct communication to department chairs, provided leadership for intercollegiate athletics and undergraduate recruitment and retention, and played a central role in the development of the strategic plan and launching its implementation. Fischer will continue serving as vice president through August 2, 2016, when he will then take academic leave in 2016-17 and return to Trinity in the fall of 2017 as a professor of English.