Stetson Departure | Search begins for new admit dean

The search process to find a permanent replacement for former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson, who abruptly resigned at the end of August, has taken its first steps.

The committee that will advise Penn President Amy Gutmann met for the first time yesterday, and an executive search firm has been chosen to assist the University in the process of appointing a new dean of admissions.

Several members of the advisory committee declined to discuss yesterday's meeting, saying they had been instructed not to talk about it and referred all questions to Gutmann. Gutmann was not available to comment for this article.

Witt/Kiefer will work with Penn in the University's search for a new admissions dean, a Witt/Kiefer representative and University spokeswoman Lori Doyle both confirmed yesterday.

The role of an executive search firm is to use its contacts to establish a diverse candidate pool for the university and attract candidates who might not apply without a little push, said Stephen Leo, a founding principal at the search-consulting firm Storbeck/Pimentel and Associates.

A key challenge for search firms is depicting the institution in a way that entices these candidates, added Tahsin Alam, a senior associate at Storbeck/Pimentel.

But that, he said, should not be a problem for Penn.

"Attracting top candidates would not be difficult at all," Alam said. "With a place like Penn, no introduction is necessary."

Consultants say that another challenge in attracting candidates might occur if the person who previously held a position left on bad terms.

In Stetson's case, the circumstances that led to his resignation have been kept under wraps by University tofficials. Stetson suddenly switched his departure date from June 2008 to this August, and the University has refused to explain the reasons behind the move.

Gutmann has only said the date switch was in the "best interests" of Stetson and the University.

It is important for a search firm to know the full picture behind a resignation as it helps a school find a replacement, Leo said.

"The easiest way to make life difficult for anyone trying to assist an institution is to not tell them the whole story," he said.

When an official leaves under circumstances that might make the position less attractive to candidates, Leo said, it is "important to be up front and honest and have a response to that."

Consultants say an average academic search takes about seven to nine months.

Alam added that a longer search process is not unusual and is a "sign that the search committee is being very stringent and good at selecting the right person rather than feeling rushed to come to a decision."

The advisory committee includes University Board of Trustees chairman James Riepe; the deans of the Wharton School and the schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences and Nursing; the tri-chairmen of the Faculty Senate; Penn Alumni President Paul Williams; Trustees Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity chairman Egbert Perry; Undergraduate Assembly chairman Jason Karsh and senior-class president Puneet Singh.

Eric Kaplan will remain interim dean until a replacement is found.

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