The search committee charged with selecting the next Public Safety director will meet this month for the third time to discuss and develop a set of criteria for evaluating candidates. The search process is in the “very early stages,” according to Director of Human Resources Lauren Turner.
Turner, who staffed the committee, said that the criteria would not be finalized until the committee received feedback from the Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and Smith communities.
“We asked that each committee member serve as a point person for collecting that feedback,” she said. “Once we have received feedback from the community and incorporated it into the evaluation criteria, I’m confident that it will be representative of all three communities.”
The committee is comprised of three students (Genesis Berlanga ’11, of Mount Holyoke; Hampshire junior Christopher Thomas; Smith senior Hailey Bird), three Student Affairs staff members (Rene Davis, the director of residential life at Mount Holyoke; Dawn Ellinwood, the dean of students at Hampshire; and Julianne Ohotnicky, the dean of students at Smith); Ajay Sinha, professor of art history at Mount Holyoke; South Hadley Chief of Police David LaBrie; and Vice President of Finance Administration Mary Jo Maydew, who also chairs the committee and is the administrator to whom the position reports.
Although the representatives are serving as liaisons for their respective constituent groups (faculty, staff, students), all constituents can approach any committee member with feedback or nominations.
Community members may also submit feedback anonymously through a link on the staff council web page (See page 3).
“It’s our mission to connect with the community,” said Davis, who works with Public Safety to review incidents and discuss policy and protocol. She also works with students through investigations and ResLife training and serves on the Violence Against Women Prevention Committee.
The search committee convened on Dec. 22 to establish a work plan and agree on a rough time line for the search, as well as to review the job posting for the position.
At a second meeting on Jan. 21, the committee drafted guidelines for evaluating candidates and reviewed applications to determine whether more outreach was necessary to increase the applicant pool. As of last Friday, the committee had received 75 applications.
“We all had a chance to read at least a third of the applications and cover letters,” said Thomas, who serves as Co-Chair of SafeCom, a subcommittee of Hampshire’s community government. “We set up how we were going to evaluate the applications, how to get feedback from the respective communities, and how we were going to present [the search] to the general public.”
According to Turner, after the committee receives feedback, they will start to narrow down finalists and draw up a shortlist of two to three candidates to invite for “comprehensive three-campus interviews.” The committee also plans to hold an open forum where candidates will make presentations.
“I think a director who is enthusiastic about engaging three very different college communities—and working with three very different college communities—is important,” said Ohotnicky. “I also think we’re still in the beginning stages of our collaboration, so some forethought and enthusiasm about continuing to develop [is important].”
The committee’s list of criteria includes: an understanding of community policing, demonstrated ability to work with a diverse community, managerial experience, ability to coach staff, communication skills, emergency management and law enforcement experience. Input from the community will be added to that criteria.
Emphasized on the list and in committee discussions was a focus on education and service orientation. “Community policing is different on a college campus,” said Davis. “We need someone who will see Public Safety as an accessible resource for students, not just cops.”
The committee also seeks someone with substantial experience working in diverse communities. According to Turner, this means “recognizing that inherent in policing is that you are an authoritarian and a steward of safety in the community. You want to do that in a way that not only provides safety but creates space and accessibility. It means having demonstrated skills shown not just by how you talk about [diversity], but also about what your references say about how you work in a diverse community.”
To submit feedback to the committee, visit:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/staffcouncil/psinput/psinput.html
Related posts:
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- Public safety director candidates make presentations
- Search committee to seek security director
- Public Safety director decision announced
- Alumnae Association continues search for new director
