2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: News
Stetson Departure | Qualities for new dean make for specific search pool
Anthony Campisi
Witt/Kieffer will do this by drawing on its connections in the higher-education world to solicit candidates through networking, Peeps said.
"I would identify institutions across the country that are at or pretty close to the quality of [Penn] and drill down to see who their dean is and who's on their staff," he said. "You do a combination of targeting organizations where you're likely to find the kind of person [you want], and you network with the people you know."
Witt/Kieffer declined to comment for this article, citing a policy against discussing ongoing searches.
But the company will be especially important because Penn, as a nonprofit, will be conducting a much different search than, say, a multinational corporation looking for a new CEO.
Whereas a company in the private sector could woo candidates with hefty compensation packages, the search for a job at Penn is much more delicate, requiring a "cultural fit" with the University, said Allison Kupfer of search firm Isaacson, Miller.
Thus, Witt/Kieffer will serve as an essential "neutral broker" between the committee at Penn charged with leading the search and potential candidates, determining what person would fit the University's mission.
The search will also have to take into consideration a wider variety of constituencies than at a private company.
At a large corporation, the wishes of a company's board of directors are the ones that matter, while a successful search in the nonprofit world requires an open process that welcomes the input of various parts of the University - from faculty to the athletic department.
Regardless, the new dean of admissions will have large shoes to fill as Stetson was widely recognized as one of the top admissions deans in the country.
He resigned mysteriously at the beginning of the semester, and both he and Penn President Amy Gutmann have refused to divulge the reasons behind his departure.
Gutmann will only say that it was in the "best interests" of both Stetson and the University and has refused numerous requests to clarify this statement.
"I would identify institutions across the country that are at or pretty close to the quality of [Penn] and drill down to see who their dean is and who's on their staff," he said. "You do a combination of targeting organizations where you're likely to find the kind of person [you want], and you network with the people you know."
Witt/Kieffer declined to comment for this article, citing a policy against discussing ongoing searches.
But the company will be especially important because Penn, as a nonprofit, will be conducting a much different search than, say, a multinational corporation looking for a new CEO.
Whereas a company in the private sector could woo candidates with hefty compensation packages, the search for a job at Penn is much more delicate, requiring a "cultural fit" with the University, said Allison Kupfer of search firm Isaacson, Miller.
Thus, Witt/Kieffer will serve as an essential "neutral broker" between the committee at Penn charged with leading the search and potential candidates, determining what person would fit the University's mission.
The search will also have to take into consideration a wider variety of constituencies than at a private company.
At a large corporation, the wishes of a company's board of directors are the ones that matter, while a successful search in the nonprofit world requires an open process that welcomes the input of various parts of the University - from faculty to the athletic department.
Regardless, the new dean of admissions will have large shoes to fill as Stetson was widely recognized as one of the top admissions deans in the country.
He resigned mysteriously at the beginning of the semester, and both he and Penn President Amy Gutmann have refused to divulge the reasons behind his departure.
Gutmann will only say that it was in the "best interests" of both Stetson and the University and has refused numerous requests to clarify this statement.
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