Committees formed to fill two U. positions

If Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta has his way, both the Greenfield Intercultural Center and the Program for Student-Community Involvement will have new permanent directors by July 1. Moneta said last night that a committee consisting of three faculty members, five students and two staff members has been appointed in the GIC director search. The committee, co-chaired by Moneta and College junior and Social Planning and Events Committee Chairperson Lissette Monge, has already begun its work. On March 28, members of the committee met to examine nearly 100 resumes submitted for consideration, Moneta said. They narrowed the field down to six applicants. Moneta said he is hoping to invite those six candidates to campus "within the next week or two." Candidates will be visiting the University throughout April, and each will hold one open forum where he or she will take questions from the public as part of the selection process. "I've been working rapidly to try to have the interview process completed before finals begin so the students [on the committee] can be fully involved in the process," Moneta said. "I'm asking the committee to choose no more than three out of those six [as finalists]." Moneta said he will choose the new GIC director from the three finalists, adding that he is "looking for a superstar" -- someone who is creative and visionary, with student group advising experience, a scholarly interest in pluralism and the ability to create a multicultural community. "I'm hoping to have more than one choice," he said. "I hope to struggle [with the decision] and find several good people." Former Assistant Dean for Advising of the College of Arts and Sciences Joe Sun is the interim director of the GIC. Moneta said the PSCI director search is also underway. The VPUL Office has been soliciting resumes and will continue to do so for the next two weeks. An advertisement for the position appeared last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The PSCI director search committee, which is currently being formed, will include two faculty members, at least two at-large staff members -- in addition to staffers from the Center for Community Partnerships -- and three students. Nominations and Elections Committee Chairperson Sharon Dunn is currently working to choose the students who will serve on the PSCI director search committee. According to Dunn, a Wharton senior, applications will be due next Wednesday, April 6. She added that she expects the students to be named within the next two to three weeks. Jo-Ann Zoll, director of alcohol and drug education, is the acting PSCI director, replacing Todd Waller, who left the University earlier this semester. Moneta's goal is to have "permanent people [in both positions] by July 1." However, he said if the selected candidates need extra adjustment or relocation time, he is willing to be flexible. "For perfect people, I'll wait," he said.

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