General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events Topic
Topic: Ohio names 4 finalists for President's job
Page: 1 of 5
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Ted Thompson
1/5/2017 7:54 AM

Link: https://www.ohio.edu/presidential-search/finalist-candidates.cfm

Finalist Candidates

Names of Candidates (in order of visit):

  • Dr. Duane Nellis, Texas Tech University 
    Open Forum (January 10, 2017, Tuesday, 4:30pm-6:30pm, Baker Ballroom) 

    View CV Document*

 

  • Dr. Dean Bresciani, North Dakota State University 
    Open Forum (January 12, 2017, Thursday, 4:30pm-6:30pm, Baker Ballroom) 

    View CV Document

 

  • Dr. Robert Frank, University of New Mexico 
    Open Forum (January 13, 2017, Friday, 4:30pm-6:30pm, Baker Ballroom) 

    View CV Document*

 

  • Dr. Pam Benoit, Ohio University 
    Open Forum (January 17, 2017, Tuesday, 4:30pm-6:30pm, Baker Ballroom) 

    View CV Document*
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Recovering Journalist
1/5/2017 8:56 AM
Thanks for posting these! I still don't understand why the school was so secretive up to this point.
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MedinaCat
1/5/2017 8:58 AM
Thanks for sharing. Interesting backgrounds. As someone who works in the field of recruitment, I am happy my work is not concentrated in the world of academia. My eyes started to glazed over reviewing these. Let's hope we identify the right leader for "old Ohio!"
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D.A.
1/5/2017 9:13 AM
I really like the backgrounds of the first two candidates in particular.

And no offense to her and her commitment to OHIO over recent years, but if Dr. Benoit is selected as our next President, I am pulling 100% of my financial commitments to the University.
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Brian Smith (No, not that one)
1/5/2017 9:26 AM
If someone told you 10 years ago that the possible president of the university and our head basketball coach both came from North Dakota State, it'd have been strange to hear.
Last Edited: 1/5/2017 9:27:08 AM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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DelBobcat
1/5/2017 9:53 AM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
I really like the backgrounds of the first two candidates in particular.

And no offense to her and her commitment to OHIO over recent years, but if Dr. Benoit is selected as our next President, I am pulling 100% of my financial commitments to the University.
Why is that? Is it that you feel she isn't as qualified as the other candidates? Or is it something else?
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D.A.
1/5/2017 10:01 AM
DelBobcat wrote:expand_more
I really like the backgrounds of the first two candidates in particular.

And no offense to her and her commitment to OHIO over recent years, but if Dr. Benoit is selected as our next President, I am pulling 100% of my financial commitments to the University.
Why is that? Is it that you feel she isn't as qualified as the other candidates? Or is it something else?
In the interest of brevity: the University needs a "CEO" in the President's role, and she has not held a position in that role in the past. I do not believe she is qualified to run the "business" of the business that is the University. The other three candidates have that experience. I could give you 100,000 words on the topic, though.
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Alan Swank
1/5/2017 10:38 AM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
I really like the backgrounds of the first two candidates in particular.

And no offense to her and her commitment to OHIO over recent years, but if Dr. Benoit is selected as our next President, I am pulling 100% of my financial commitments to the University.
Why is that? Is it that you feel she isn't as qualified as the other candidates? Or is it something else?
In the interest of brevity: the University needs a "CEO" in the President's role, and she has not held a position in that role in the past. I do not believe she is qualified to run the "business" of the business that is the University. The other three candidates have that experience. I could give you 100,000 words on the topic, though.
Neither did McDavis. Do you consider him a success? If so, you just refuted your own argument.
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D.A.
1/5/2017 10:48 AM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
I really like the backgrounds of the first two candidates in particular.

And no offense to her and her commitment to OHIO over recent years, but if Dr. Benoit is selected as our next President, I am pulling 100% of my financial commitments to the University.
Why is that? Is it that you feel she isn't as qualified as the other candidates? Or is it something else?
In the interest of brevity: the University needs a "CEO" in the President's role, and she has not held a position in that role in the past. I do not believe she is qualified to run the "business" of the business that is the University. The other three candidates have that experience. I could give you 100,000 words on the topic, though.
Neither did McDavis. Do you consider him a success? If so, you just refuted your own argument.
Is it still 2004? And did the last 13 years not happen? You just gave evidence to why I hardly post any longer, and perhaps should just stop.
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Jeff Johnson
1/5/2017 10:56 AM
I would oppose Robert Frank as a choice, as his tenure at University of New Mexico has been fraught with controversy amid complaints about his management style and accusations of abusing his expense account. See newspaper reports below:

https://www.abqjournal.com/901952/unm-regents-call-specia...

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/unm-presi...
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Alan Swank
1/5/2017 11:32 AM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
I really like the backgrounds of the first two candidates in particular.

And no offense to her and her commitment to OHIO over recent years, but if Dr. Benoit is selected as our next President, I am pulling 100% of my financial commitments to the University.
Why is that? Is it that you feel she isn't as qualified as the other candidates? Or is it something else?
In the interest of brevity: the University needs a "CEO" in the President's role, and she has not held a position in that role in the past. I do not believe she is qualified to run the "business" of the business that is the University. The other three candidates have that experience. I could give you 100,000 words on the topic, though.
Neither did McDavis. Do you consider him a success? If so, you just refuted your own argument.
Is it still 2004? And did the last 13 years not happen? You just gave evidence to why I hardly post any longer, and perhaps should just stop.
When McDavis was hired, he had no CEO experience. Using your logic, we should not have hired him.
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OhioCatFan
1/5/2017 11:50 AM
After a very quick skim of credentials, my top two are: Duane Nellis and Dean Bresciani. They both have a great breath of appropriate experience. Of relevance to BA, Bresciani has also been active in NCAA committee work (http://tinyurl.com/zjrdhnz ). Nellis departure from Texas Tech seems a little problematic, but there may be a good explanation for it.
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Deciduous Forest Cat
1/5/2017 1:58 PM
Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
Thanks for posting these! I still don't understand why the school was so secretive up to this point.
I think it's done at least partially out of respect to the candidates themselves.
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C Money
1/5/2017 2:15 PM
I gotta think Benoit is the most likely pick (for better or worse). #1, I get the sense that the Trustees like what McDavis has done, and picking an insider would at least have the feel of a continuation. #2, my experience has been that the internal candidate generally has the advantage in academia. If she wasn't the pick, someone would have given her the hint not to pursue it. That is, unless I'm wrong on #1, and the Trustees want to clean sweep the administration and don't care about hurt feelings one iota.
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mf279801
1/5/2017 3:39 PM
C Money wrote:expand_more
I gotta think Benoit is the most likely pick (for better or worse). #1, I get the sense that the Trustees like what McDavis has done, and picking an insider would at least have the feel of a continuation. #2, my experience has been that the internal candidate generally has the advantage in academia. If she wasn't the pick, someone would have given her the hint not to pursue it. That is, unless I'm wrong on #1, and the Trustees want to clean sweep the administration and don't care about hurt feelings one iota.
Benoit might very well be the front-runner (I don't know if that's the case or not), but I don't see any reason for the Trustees to worry about her feelings: she is currently the Executive VP/Provost and that position will almost certainly be going to someone else when the new President takes over. That being the case, if she doesn't get the top job then I don't really see her staying in Athens. I'd assume she move on to another university if she wants to stay in the Senior Administrator (e.g. Provost, Vice-President, something like that) job category. Ideally (for her) either a lateral move title-wise but to a more prestigious school or a step up to the Presidency at a similar or less prestigious school.**

**I'm basing my assumption that Dr. Benoit doesn't want to return to being a professor based on her CV, which seems to indicate that she hasn't been an "actual" professor (as in acting primarily as an academic rather than an admin) since about 1998
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SBH
1/5/2017 3:41 PM
I suspect she's among the finalists only out of respect. Gonna go to one of the three other candidates. OU has dropped in most academic ratings under her watch and that is one area of emphasis for the trustees.
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Mike Johnson
1/5/2017 4:03 PM
I've had the pleasure of getting to know Ohio's last three presidents and believe, in their own ways, they have strengthened Alma Mater.

That said, Charley Ping holds three degrees - all in philosophy. Bob Glidden holds three degrees, all in music. Rod McDavis holds three degrees, all in education.

Doubtless, Ohio's next president will hold a Ph. D. That's fine by me. I would, though, feel more confident about Ohio's long-term future if the next president's resume includes some evidence of meaningful experience in:
* finance
* accounting
* productivity management
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OhioStunter
1/5/2017 7:08 PM
Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
I've had the pleasure of getting to know Ohio's last three presidents and believe, in their own ways, they have strengthened Alma Mater.

That said, Charley Ping holds three degrees - all in philosophy. Bob Glidden holds three degrees, all in music. Rod McDavis holds three degrees, all in education.

Doubtless, Ohio's next president will hold a Ph. D. That's fine by me. I would, though, feel more confident about Ohio's long-term future if the next president's resume includes some evidence of meaningful experience in:
* finance
* accounting
* productivity management

Those three were also leaders with vibrant personalities that resonated with faculty and students in their own ways -- including athletics. This is something that can't really be measured with a CV.
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SBH
1/5/2017 8:30 PM
Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
I've had the pleasure of getting to know Ohio's last three presidents and believe, in their own ways, they have strengthened Alma Mater.

That said, Charley Ping holds three degrees - all in philosophy. Bob Glidden holds three degrees, all in music. Rod McDavis holds three degrees, all in education.

Doubtless, Ohio's next president will hold a Ph. D. That's fine by me. I would, though, feel more confident about Ohio's long-term future if the next president's resume includes some evidence of meaningful experience in:
* finance
* accounting
* productivity management
Projecting real-world skills on to a job in higher ed? I'll have a shot of whatever it is you are drinking.
Last Edited: 1/5/2017 9:58:00 PM by SBH
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Mike Johnson
1/5/2017 9:34 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
I've had the pleasure of getting to know Ohio's last three presidents and believe, in their own ways, they have strengthened Alma Mater.

That said, Charley Ping holds three degrees - all in philosophy. Bob Glidden holds three degrees, all in music. Rod McDavis holds three degrees, all in education.

Doubtless, Ohio's next president will hold a Ph. D. That's fine by me. I would, though, feel more confident about Ohio's long-term future if the next president's resume includes some evidence of meaningful experience in:
* finance
* accounting
* productivity management
Projecting real-world skills on a job in higher ed? I'll have a shot of whatever it is your drinking?
On a frigid winter night - as in tonight - I favor brandy.
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JerseyArnie
1/6/2017 4:10 AM
Jeff Johnson wrote:expand_more
I would oppose Robert Frank as a choice, as his tenure at University of New Mexico has been fraught with controversy amid complaints about his management style and accusations of abusing his expense account. See newspaper reports below:

https://www.abqjournal.com/901952/unm-regents-call-specia...

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/unm-presi...
I follow the New Mexico papers fairly close, as I have a house there. He did not seem particularity liked, though I just casually followed his leaving the President post at UNM. He was offered an alternative job in the University at a huge salary. A lot of New Mexico education is funded by Oil and Gas revenues. With the sector down, there have been cuts to the University budget. People were unhappy about this perceived buy out, in a time of tight funding.

https://www.abqjournal.com/921560/unms-bob-frank-is-final...
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DelBobcat
1/6/2017 9:22 AM
D.A. wrote:expand_more
I really like the backgrounds of the first two candidates in particular.

And no offense to her and her commitment to OHIO over recent years, but if Dr. Benoit is selected as our next President, I am pulling 100% of my financial commitments to the University.
Why is that? Is it that you feel she isn't as qualified as the other candidates? Or is it something else?
In the interest of brevity: the University needs a "CEO" in the President's role, and she has not held a position in that role in the past. I do not believe she is qualified to run the "business" of the business that is the University. The other three candidates have that experience. I could give you 100,000 words on the topic, though.
Gotcha, that makes sense. I would also favor one of the other three for similar reasons. But to play devil's advocate, hasn't she gotten that experience at OHIO? After all, she has been actually running the university since McDavis has been focusing on fundraising, right?
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Ohio69
1/6/2017 2:50 PM
Boy, doesn't take too much googling to find some big controversies for those candidates. I guess that comes with being a president? Wouldn't take long to find that for McDavis either.... Bresciani recently getting 80% of NDSU faculty to vote in favor of extending his contract is interesting.
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OhioCatFan
1/6/2017 3:46 PM
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
. . . Bresciani recently getting 80% of NDSU faculty to vote in favor of extending his contract is interesting.
Based on very little information, he's become my early favorite.
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CA Bobcat
1/6/2017 8:36 PM
I really like Bresciani's diverse experience and particularly his success with fundraising and overseeing a very successful athletics program. I wonder what kind of relationship Saul had with him.
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