By BLAISE BRYANT
Contributing Writer
Over the last several months, The College of Saint Rose has been searching for its tenth full-time president.
The Presidential Search Committee started out with roughly 50 applications. Only 12 made it to the next round. After a series of phone interviews, four finalists have accepted an invitation to come and meet with the Saint Rose community.
“I would actually like to meet more students because I was so impressed with the ones I met yesterday, and their attitude towards Saint Rose,” said candidate Kim Mooney.
Mooney received her doctorate degree in social psychology from the University of New Hampshire in 1989, and is currently the Provost of Academic Affairs at Franklin Pierce University. Mooney spent roughly 20 years at St. Lawrence University, up by the Canadian border, and feels coming back to New York would be somewhat of a homecoming.
“I think the Albany area is still a vibrant area and beautifully located because there is all sorts of access to various regions,” Mooney said.
“I went on a tour with some of the students yesterday, and they were superb,” said Greg Walsh. Walsh and Mooney are “partners in life.” For Walsh, it’d also be somewhat of a homecoming; he lived in Schenectady and worked in the capital building for roughly a year and a half.
“People were greeting us, people were holding doors, they were polite, and everyone was saying hi…I found that fascinating because I don’t see that at other college campuses,” Walsh said.
While Mooney prefers Dunkin’ Donuts over Starbucks, she knows the lounge is a big student hangout.
On Thursday, some of the faculty took advantage of the opportunity to attend a question and answer session with Mooney.
“She’s clear, she has excellent ideas, she seems comfortable here, and she makes everyone else feel comfortable around her,” said math professor Joanne Powers. Powers, who has been teaching at Saint Rose for 24 years, said Mooney resembles former president R. Mark Sullivan. During Sullivan’s presidency from 1996-2012, Sullivan added four buildings for specific majors, and the upperclassmen dorm Centennial Hall. Several campus buildings were also renovated.
“The search process is very interesting because you have to find a good match for the college,” said math and science professor Ginny Vonbehr.
Some of the puzzle pieces to make a good fit for Mooney if she becomes president are: presenting enthusiasm toward Saint Rose, support and continue the direction the College is heading, being able to adjust between the size difference between Franklin Pierce and Saint Rose, and having support of the board, said Vonbehr.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting the other candidates,” said adjunct math professor Peter Young.
It is important to have a president who can communicate with everyone and bring them together, said Young. Students should be coming to all of these open sessions, because we are at a very important stage at the College, Young said.
Member of the presidential search committee were not permitted to speak to the media.
The other three finalists candidates will be visiting campus throughout the week.
