Stackman fills Associate Dean position

Search committee raised issues about dean's first choice

Bill Stackman, the search committee's favored candidate for a new Associate Dean of Student Life and Services, filled the open position this spring. Stackman's appointment came after candidate Mark Constantine declined the position offer last November.

Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk originally selected Constantine for the position on Oct. 11. According to Cole-Newkirk, he declined the job because she and Constantine couldn't reach an agreement on a contract.

Last fall, students listened to the three candidates, Stackman, Constantine and Richard Danals during the search process. Administrators, including Cole-Newkirk and President Nancy Dye, also interviewed the candidates individually.

During the Associate Dean search committee's final meeting, members went around the group stating whether they preferred one candidate over another, former Associate Dean of Residential Life and Services Joe DiChristina said. The members of the search committee preferred Stackman over the other two candidates.

DiChristina said he relayed the committee's feelings about the candidates to Cole-Newkirk. Although the search committee preferred Stackman over Constantine, Cole-Newkirk decided to choose Constantine for the position.

In response to frustrations voiced by unhappy students and search committee members as a result of Cole-Newkirk's decision, Cole-Newkirk and DiChristina met with students, student senators, Wilder Student Union workers and search committee members on Oct. 16 to discuss and clarify the search and hiring process for the associate dean position.

Cole-Newkirk told the group that she never talked to the search committee after the interviews. "My understanding was that both candidates [Stackman and Constantine] were acceptable. I had to balance a lot of different issues," Cole-Newkirk said. From the beginning of the search process, Cole-Newkirk said she told participants that ultimately the candidate selection would be her decision.

During the meeting, students wanted to know why the search committee's strong preference for Stackman failed to dissuade Cole-Newkirk from hiring Constantine. Former senator sophomore Nicole Johnston asked DiChristina, "What happened, Joe?" DiChristina's role as chair of the committee was to communicate the committee's feelings concerning the candidates to Cole-Newkirk.

Assistant Director of the Student Union and member of the search committee Christopher Baymiller said, "We had a strong preference for one candidate. In all honesty, there was one preference." According to Baymiller, the committee articulated their preference for Stackman.

In response to Baymiller's question, Cole-Newkirk said, "I didn't know there was a strong preference. I have to depend on the information given to me." DiChristina said to the group, "This isn't like a trial."

Cole-Newkirk said, "I wasn't trying to cut people out of the process. I know Oberlin, you wouldn't keep your mouths shut."

Meeting participants turned the discussion to the idea of improving communication in future searches. Johnston said, "I don't know how to foster better communication between staff and students." Cole Newkirk said, "I've always had an open door policy about people coming in to see me. I'm going to make mistakes. I'm not perfect."

After the meeting, one student who wished to remain anonymous said, "[Cole-Newkirk] was very evasive. I felt that she didn't answer or address the questions." First-year student senator Elias Holman said, "I felt the administrators were too hasty to go on the defensive." He added, "I thought the students were trying to work with the administrators and they, the administrators, seemed to want to deny everything all the time. They didn't compromise at all."

Concerning the entire issue Cole-Newkirk said, "I think it all got confused." Cole-Newkirk said that she would run search and hiring processes differently in the future. Confidentiality was a major concern of Cole-Newkirk's, and she said she felt that it was violated during the associate dean search.

Although Constantine withdrew his candidacy for associate dean, Cole-Newkirk said last fall, "I'm really delighted that Bill [Stackman] is going to be here."

Stackman started in his position this January. Of Oberlin students Stackman said, "I am really pleased to see their interest and involvement in campus life." He added, "I think it is important to really make sure that happens. It is important to us that students are part of the process, but it is best when they are genuinely interested."

Stackman said he reached out to students throughout the semester by inviting representatives from students groups to eat lunch with him on Thursdays. According to Stackman, these lunches are a good way to get to know students and their concerns.

Stackman, during his 14 years of experience in the field of student activities and student union administration, worked at Glenville State College in West Virginia, Temple University in Philadelphia, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and, prior to Oberlin, at Tufts University in Boston as director of the student union and student activities.

Cole-Newkirk said she is happy to have Stackman as a part of her staff. "Bill has been a delightful addition to the staff. He is extremely bright [and] has great ideas." She added, "I think Bill has a wealth of experience, and students and staff will have a great time working with him."

Associate Dean of Student Life and Services T. Bill Stackman started started his position this spring. He has been impressed with Oberlin student interest and involvement in campu life. (photo by Susanna Henighan)