By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
news@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — This week, the position of provost/vice president for academic affairs at Pittsburg State University will be one step closer to being filled.
After interviews with four candidates during the past week, a screening committee on Tuesday will provide PSU President Steve Scott with its recommendation.
Lynette Olson, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has held the position in an interim capacity since Scott moved from provost to assume the presidency of the university last summer.
The position is the second most important position at the university, according to Stephen Meats, chairman of the screening committee.
The candidates are Olson; Alice Greife, dean of the College of Science and Technology at the University of Central Missouri; Munir Quddus, dean of the College of Business at Prairie View A&M; University, Texas; and James O’Donnell, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at Wayne State College in Nebraska.
In the past week, each finalist had the opportunity to have dinner with Scott and guests; to meet with the screening committee, department chairmen, classified and unclassified staff members, faculty members, and the Student Government Association; to have lunch with the President’s Council; and to meet with leadership of the faculty senate and the Kansas National Education Association.
Meats, representing the screening committee, will report to Scott about the campus reaction to each of the candidates.
“We’ll send him a compilation of the committee’s opinions, comments collected from those who met with the candidates, and campus opinions,” Meats said.
Scott then will interview the finalists.
Meats said he is unsure as to how soon Scott might make a decision.
