Forum held for public input

STAFF WRITER

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Through a day-long series of public forums Thursday in the Eastern New Mexico University Campus Union Building, faculty and students expressed that the college’s new president must strive for excellence while maintaining the rapport with students held by current President Steven Gamble.

Staff photos: Eamon Scarbrough

Eastern New Mexico University Art Department Chair Bradford Hamann and Professor of Music John Olsen offer comment during a public forum Thursday afternoon in the Campus Union Building’s Pecos Room. The forum was for university faculty and community members to give input regarding the search for a new president.

Gamble announced his retirement effective August 2017 after a 16-year career at ENMU.

Senior Partner Zachary Smith and Associate Sophie Stava with executive search firm Witt/Kieffer established in forums with both students and faculty that they would be gathering feedback about what the university would look for in the new president.

“In addition to that, one of the important pieces of information that we need to get from you today is what you think will be important for the next president to focus on,” Smith said at the faculty forum.

No one from the public attended the community forum.

Stephen Melby, an instructor of social work, desired a president that “embraces the quality of excellence” at ENMU and can support that agenda financially.

“I don’t think anybody would argue here that we’re in a tough spot here wage-wise, but I think belief is an important thing, and sometimes, if you expect excellence, you’ll get excellence,” Melby said. “There seems to be an attitude that develops of just getting by; ‘We’ve just got to get by.’ That’s a reality, but someone that can still maintain a focus on excellence within that would be important to me.”

Department of Biology Chair Kenwyn Cradock agreed with Melby, adding that he wanted to see a president that could represent ENMU well when seeking funding at the state legislature, as well as someone who would take the university’s mission seriously.

“The mission is really important to everyone on campus, and it really defines the university, so someone who not just knows what the mission is, but someone who can really take that to heart and demonstrate that, would be important,” Cradock said, adding that the mission combines a liberal arts philosophy with a four-year comprehensive university.

Faculty were also encouraged to include what made Gamble a great president.

“I consider him a straight shooter. I think he’s prudent, and a good steward of the university’s finances, and his ability to basically work a crowd in Santa Fe (at state Legislature) — I can’t think of anybody being able to do it any better,” said Art Department Chair Bradford Hamann.

In the public forum for students, senior broadcast production major MariaElena Martinez said that the primary quality she would look for in a candidate would be accessibility and a willingness to help.

“Even before I came to Eastern, I came for the high school preview days. He (Gamble) immediately introduced himself to me, and he gave me his phone number. He was like, ‘if you need anything, call me,’” she said. “That meant a lot to me, considering the fact that I wasn’t even here yet. He didn’t even have my money yet. A thing that I really enjoyed was that, when I did come to Eastern, his attitude didn’t change. He wasn’t like, ‘OK, we got you. Now I’m just going to completely ignore you.’”

After holding the forums, Smith said that he and Stava would compile a comprehensive document establishing what the university was looking for in a candidate. They would then release advertisements on various job sites; he estimated 40-50 applicants, and stated that the goal would be to have a new president on-site by July 1 of 2017.