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May 30, 2018

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Thank you all for the warm welcome to John Carroll University and University Heights! From our Jesuit Catholic heritage and its clarity of purpose, to our unique programs in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Boler College of Business, John Carroll has an outsized impact on our region, country, and world. That impact is the result of all of your hard work. My wife Jill and I have made our home close to campus and greatly enjoy our walks as we meet students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. We are learning first hand just what makes John Carroll so very special. My listening and learning will continue in the weeks and months ahead, and I look forward to engaging you in that process.

JCU is in the process of searching for a number of key leadership positions. As many of you know Nick Santilli is stepping down as Interim Academic Vice President and Provost and retiring from John Carroll University on May 31. We are grateful to Nick for his outstanding service and leadership over the years and will miss him greatly. The search process for a new AVP and Provost has begun. Associate Professor Emily Butler (English) has agreed to chair the committee.  She will be joined by three faculty-elected members, Professors Brent Brossmann(communication), William Elliott (economics and finance), and Christopher Sheil (biology). Vice President for Student Affairs Mark McCarthy will serve as my designee on the search committee. A staff member and a member of our student body (both to be determined) will round out the seven-person committee. The committee will seek to complete their process by December with the goal to hire an individual by early 2019.

In the interim, multiple members of the University’s leadership team will support the roles and responsibilities of the Provost’s Office. Jim Krukones has graciously agreed to take on the role of Interim Academic Vice President, foremost for the purpose of key faculty governance issues including promotion and tenure, while he continues in his duties as Associate AVP. As a way to help Jim and to develop my own deeper knowledge of our academic programs, I intend to work directly with the academic deans to develop and implement college-level strategies. Vice President for University Mission and Identity Ed Peck has also agreed to support the Provost’s Office with respect to faculty programs.

On a separate but related note, our HLC accreditation will be in the able hands of Assistant Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Todd Bruce and Professor Michael Martin (biology), where Todd will be our formal liaison to HLC. Both Todd and Mike have worked closely with Dr. Santilli on the HLC process throughout the past year in preparation for our upcoming review in the 2018-19 academic year.

We are making progress in our search for a Vice President of Enrollment Management. Thanks to Nick Santilli and Ed Peck for co-chairing that process in recent weeks. The committee has worked with Napier and Associates to identify candidates. We conducted off-site interviews last week and look forward to finalist visits on campus in early June.

Finally, Kendra Svilar is stepping down from her role as Interim Title IX Coordinator on May 31 to take another position. Kendra will be missed, and we wish her the best in her new position. The University has begun a search for a full-time Title IX Coordinator, co-chaired by General Counsel Colleen Treml and Mark McCarthy. Many thanks to Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Sherri Crahen for agreeing to serve as the Interim Title IX Coordinator, as we accelerate the search for a replacement. Details of the process will be communicated as they become available.

Thank you all for your service to John Carroll University! I wish you a pleasant and restful summer. Before we know it the students will be back on campus, as we once again enjoy the rhythm of academic life.

Best wishes,

Michael