Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: News

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.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools