Five finalists for UHCL provost position hold open forums on campus
The University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) is currently in the process of hiring the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. At UHCL, the provost oversees programs and policies that affect the UHCL community. In addition, the office oversees the appointment and promotion of faculty.
UHCL’s current Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost A. Glen Houston was appointed to the position in 2016 after former Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Carl Stockton left to become the Chancellor of Auburn Univerity-Montgomery.
Houston started at the university in 1985 as an assistant professor of computer science and the founding director of the former Research Institute for Computing and Information Systems. Prior to taking the position of provost, Houston was the associate vice president for information resources.
The start date for the new Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost position is slated for summer 2018, with an official date to be determined. In April, finalists for the position, as selected by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Search Committee, began to visit the university and hold open forum presentations based on the topic of a “comprehensive university transforming into the future.” The five finalists are Deena González, Jaimie Herbert, Mark Anderson, Abbey Zink and Steven Berberich.
Deena González of Loyola Marymount University
Deena González received her Ph.D. and M.A. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. She has a background in liberal arts, specifically in history relating to Chicana/o studies, as well as anthropology. González has served as an Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs at Loyola Marymount University since 2012.
During her April 25 open forum, González said student access to the provost could be further integrated into the position through on-campus presence.
“I think that it is possible to work out a pattern of attention so that students would be able to see a provost walking around campus, attend events and have access to a provost when needed,” González said.
Jaimie Herbert of Georgia Southern University
Jaimie Herbert has a background in mathematics and statistics, having been a professor in those subjects prior to becoming the dean of Sam Houston State University’s (SHSU) College of Arts and Sciences in 2005. Herbert became SHSU’s Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs in 2011, and since 2016 has been President of Georgia Southern University.
At his April 26 open forum, Herbert talked about his previous experience as a provost, which included scheduling time to interact with the campus community.
“I’d find an open door and I’d sit,” Herbert said. “Might be a faculty office, might be a staff office and I’d just pop in…you get to know people. That’s really important, is to learn to understand people on a very personal level.”
Mark Anderson of Kennesaw State University
Mark Anderson has been the Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Kennesaw State University since 2012. Before serving in this position, Anderson was a professor and the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Colorado Denver from 2007 to 2012.
Anderson spoke at his May 1 open forum about the importance of being accessible to students, while also noting the importance of student success through decisions.
“I understand the importance of being around students, we work for students,” Anderson said. “Sometimes I’ll go to events I see going on, but mainly I think the biggest thing is making decisions that prove you are working towards student success.”
Abbey Zink of Sam Houston State University
Before her position in higher education, Abbey Zink earned media experience as a business editor, having had a background in English and journalism. Zink has served as a dean at three universities over a period of nine years including at Western Connecticut State University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Since 2014, Zink has served as the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at SHSU.
Zink stated at her May 2 open forum that she desires UHCL’s enrollment to grow and believes the university has a lot to offer.
“[UHCL] must stay hungry and look for opportunities to be ready to act,” Zink said. “I think one thing we need to know is where are we going.”
Steven Berberich of Wright State University
Steven Berberich has served as the Associate Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs at Wright State University since 2013. From 2013 to 2016, Berberich was also the CEO of Molecular Oncology Diagnostics, LLC.
The Signal reached out to Berberich for a comment regarding his thoughts on provost availability to students and what he would like students to know about him. Berberich declined to comment.
“To respect the search process, I would prefer to not comment until the process has completed,” Berberich said.
