Posted: 1/24/07

Michelle Bookless | multimedia editor
mbookless2@smcvt.edu

After nearly 11 years as the president of St. Michael’s College, Dr. Marc vanderHeyden is retiring, leaving behind a formidable and well-worn pair of shoes to fill. The search for the new president has been narrowed down to three hopefuls: Dr. John Neuhauser, professor Christine Wiseman, and Dr. Jack Calareso.

Progressive ideas and student involvement

As the process continues, many faculty, staff, students, alumni, and administrators have voiced their opinions about the characteristics they would like to see in the 16th president of the college. Many agreed that the two most important characteristics are the ability to come up with progressive ideas for fundraising and an ability to interact with the college community, especially students. Lorrie Smith, an English professor who has been at St. Michael’s for 21 years, says that ideas about fundraising are imperative.

Associate Vice-President of Admission and Enrollment Management Jerry Flanagan agrees. A 1971 graduate of the college, Flanagan has seen six presidents throughout his 40 years at the college and says the new president should help the college identify resources in terms of money, talent, and time in and outside of St. Michael’s.

Mark Litchfield, assistant director for conferences and special events and a 1999 St. Michael’s alumnus, agrees that fundraising is important but says that interaction with the students is important as well. The new president "should be dedicated to the mission and place students high on their priority list,” he says.

First-year class president, Korinne Baccali (Michelle Bookless, photo)

Accessibility is a main concern among current students as well. “They just really have to be not so much down to earth but willing to come down and blend with the students.” Korinne Baccali, the 2010 class president, says.

Other students, such as senior Mercedes Mack, agree that a good relationship with the students is most important, especially in terms of how they view the educational process.

“I want [the new president] to be progressive with the students,” Mack says. “I don’t want a president who’s going to curve our ability to grow intellectually.”

First impressions

Open forums were held from Jan. 17 - 19 in the McCarthy Arts Center, during which members of the campus community were invited to meet with each of the candidates separately. At the meetings, students and faculty participated in a question-and-answer format. On Jan. 17, Neuhauser was the first candidate to speak candidly with students, faculty, and administrators.

Smith, who attended all three open meetings says, “He [Neuhauser] came across as very approachable and intelligent.”

Chelsea Kimball, a junior biochemistry major, agrees. “Our school is open-minded and he is too,” she says. “I thought he was very approachable.”

In fact, Gorton has already decided who he thinks the next president of the college should be.

“If I were a trustee I’d endorse Dr. Neuhauser,” he says. “He knows how to run a first class Catholic education. I felt that Dr. Neuhauser really had a very good understanding of what St. Michael’s is.”

"I don't want a president who's going to curve our ability to grow intellectually." - Mercedes Mack, senior

However, differences in opinion exist as well. Baccali, who did not attend the open meeting but met with Neuhauser and other students for lunch, disagrees and says that even though Neuhauser is on the Board of Trustees, he does not seem to know a lot about the college.

“He seemed surprised to hear about a lot of things,” she says.

On Jan. 18, Wiseman fielded questions from faculty, staff, and students. Baccali says she is excited a female candidate is being examined.

“I think that she took the time to find out about the school,” Baccali says, adding that she does not feel the same about Neuhauser.

“Even though she was a little blunt at some points, she did get right to the point," Baccali says. "She wasn’t trying to hide anything.”

Smith says she was also happy to see a female candidate.

“I think that there’s a lot of value in choosing to hire the first woman president of St. Michael’s College if she’s qualified,” she says. “I think it would be very encouraging for younger faculty.”

Still, others are not impressed with Wiseman, including Kimball.

“She was super aggressive and very loud spoken...I felt kind of timid with her.”

Additionally, she commented that Wiseman’s lack of experience in the East Coast might be detrimental.

“She’s never been on this side of the damn country,” Kimball says.

The last candidate, Calareso, met with the campus community on Jan. 19 after having to reschedule his original Jan. 16 meeting. Smith says she thinks Calareso is amicable, but says that he did not show as much depth as the other candidates.

“He was like a stand-up comedian, full of one-liners,” she says.

Kimball, however, says she feels that Calareso's comical personality is a perfect way to connect with the students.

“I thought he was amazing,” she says. “He made everybody laugh.”

Jerry Flanagan, 1971 alumnus and Associate Vice-President of Admission and Enrollment Management. (Michelle Bookless, photo)

In fact, Kimball says she was so impressed by Calareso that she approached the chair of the Board of Trustees, Joseph Garrity, and told him Calareso should be the next president of St. Michael's.

Gorton says he enjoys Calareso’s personality and calls him “a mover and a shaker," but adds that he personally can’t envision Calareso occupying the Founder’s Hall office.

Indeed, it was not just Calareso who made an impression on the students, but his wife as well. Baccali says that even though she did not get to speak with Calareso, she was impressed by his wife and her eagerness to work with the students.

“Marc and Dana [vanderHeyden] are a team,” she says, “I could see her being like Dana.”

A bold move forward

With the verdict still out on who the next president of the college will be, students, faculty, and staff are still forming their opinions of the candidates. Smith says the final decision should contribute to the progression of the college.

“I think that at a juncture like this it’s time for the college to think about moving forward,” she says. “We shouldn’t be afraid to be bold in that move.”