Five candidates named in search for new vice chancellor
Only months after CU-system President Bruce Benson took office, CU’s committee to find a new vice chancellor for student affairs looks to be playing with a full deck.
On April 19, five candidates from around the nation were named as possible replacements for current Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Ron Stump.
According to the CU news center, the candidates are Deb Coffin, current assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and executive director of Housing and Dining Services, Todd Holcomb, associate vice president for student affairs at Iowa State University, Christopher Payne, associate vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Melvin Terrell, vice president for student affairs at Northeastern Illinois University and Julie Wong, associate vice president and dean of students and University of Texas at El Paso.
Michael Grant, associate vice chancellor and committee chair, said these were the best candidates.
“(The candidates) had, overall, the highest credentials,” Grant said.
The committee was looking for an individual with experience at higher education, knowledge of student affairs and success in their previous positions, Grant said.
“The field is very strong,” Grant said.
CU Spokesman Bronson Hilliard said at this time there is no frontrunner but all the candidates will have to have leadership and management skills, the ability to inspire those who serve under them and the ability to build and enhance teams.
“They will have to fill the void left by Ron Stump,” Hilliard said.
UCSU Tri-executive Hadley Brown said she is happy with the committee’s results. She said there were originally two student representatives but the committee added another representative after UCSU asked for one.
“The fact that they accepted our request made student representation better,” Brown said. “People are more aware of the need for student voice.”
Brown said she was not certain which candidate was better.
“I would like a chance to talk to all of them,” Brown said.
The candidates will all make their visits to CU over the next two weeks. One candidate, Julie Wong, has already made her visit to CU.
“She has a lot of experience working with students,” Brown said.
Brown also said she was very personable. Brown said they want a vice chancellor who is sensitive to diversity issues.
“The student affairs program has a very progressive approach to social justice,” Brown said.
Contact Campus Press Copy Editor Aaron Musick at aaron.musick@colorado.edu.
