Presidential Search Committee Selects 12 Candidates for Interviews Next Week

March 3, 2021 – Sarasota

New College of Florida’s Presidential Search Committee has selected 12 applicants from a national pool of more than 130 candidates to interview for the presidency of New College. The next president will succeed Dr. Donal O’Shea, who has led New College since 2012.

“The applicant pool reflects a remarkable depth and breadth of academic scholarship and professional accomplishment at colleges and universities across the country,” said Presidential Search Committee Chair Mary Ruiz, who chairs the New College Board of Trustees. “The candidates brought a diverse set of backgrounds and professional experiences for us to consider. We look forward to speaking with the candidates directly.”

In her comments to Search Committee Members, Chair Ruiz further remarked, “The high quality of this pool affirms the national reputation of New College and the confidence in higher education circles of our future success.  Our goals of ranking 20th nationally in excellence and growing to 1,200 students are aims many pre-eminent educational leaders are eager to embrace.”

Candidates who will move forward in the process are:

• Christa Acampora
  Deputy Provost and Professor of Philosophy, Emory University
  
• Dierdre D’Albertis
  Dean of the College and Professor of English, Bard College
  
• Jane Fernandes
  President (on sabbatical) and Professor of English, Guilford College
  
• Robert Gervasi
  President, Ohio Dominican University
  
• Gretchen Gerzina
  Paul Murray Kendall Chair in Biography and Professor of English, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
  
• Anne McCall
  Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor, Department of Languages, Xavier University of Louisiana
  
• Patricia Okker
  Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of English, University of Missouri
  
• Paula O’Loughlin
  Provost and Dean of Faculty and Professor of Political Science, Coe College
  
• Rhonda Phillips
  Inaugural Dean, Honors College, and Professor of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
  
• Patricia Price
  Associate Provost and Assistant Vice President for Academic Administration, Faculty, Development and Research, and Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, City University of New York, Baruch College
  
• Alan Shao
  Dean, School of Business, Interim Vice President for Corporate Partnerships, and Professor of Marketing, College of Charleston
  
• Michael Sosulski
  Provost, Wofford College

The Presidential Search Committee will interview candidates via Zoom March 8 (12:30-5:30 pm), 9 (8 am-12:30 pm) and 10 (8 am-12:30 pm). The finalists will be invited to campus for in-person interviews between March 29 and April 9.