Five Finalists Named in MCLA Presidential Search| 11:01AM / Friday, October 30, 2015 | |
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Board of Trustees has accepted the recommendations of the Presidential Search Committee, who have identified five finalists for the next president of the college.
The five finalists are: Mary S. “Missy” Alexander, Ph.D., dean, Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences at Western Connecticut State University; James F. “Jaimie” Birge, Ph.D., interim president at Marygrove College and previous president at Franklin Pierce University; Scott R. Furlong, Ph.D., dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; S. Alan Ray, Ph.D., J.D., visiting scholar at Harvard Law School and previous president at Elmhurst College; and Andrew Rogerson, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs at Sonoma State University.
Finalists were selected by the 14-member Presidential Search Committee. The search was facilitated by Korn Ferry, a consulting firm that recruited candidates who met the criteria and qualifications for the next president at MCLA. A group of applicants was forwarded to the committee, which selected 11 to interview.
Susan Gold, of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of MCLA’s Presidential Search Committee, said she is very pleased the finalists for MCLA's next president.
“There was a high level of interest for this position from across the nation. As a result, the committee has identified and advanced a diverse and strong group of finalists,” she said.
The process of selecting a new president began early this year with the departure of Mary Grant, who announced last fall she was leaving MCLA to become chancellor-elect at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Asheville. In early March, the position was offered to Greg Summers, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. Summers initially accepted the position but later in March bowed out, citing personal reasons.
This new group of finalists are scheduled to visit the campus during the month of November. The Board of MCLA Trustees is expected to recommend its selection of a new president to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education in December.
Professional backgrounds of the five finalists for President of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts include:
Dr. Mary S. “Missy” Alexander
Alexander is the dean of the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences at Western Connecticut State University. Starting in 2012, Alexander collaborated with faculty in the development of a first year experience, a new general education curriculum, and the simplification of bureaucratic processes that block student success.
In addition, she oversees several college access programs, and works closely with area K-12 schools to ensure college preparation for students from all backgrounds. Prior to WCSU, Alexander was at Marist College, where she served as assistant dean of the School of Communication and the Arts, director of Marist’s branch campus in Florence, director of the graduate program in organizational communication and leadership, and as an associate professor of communication.
She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Hunter College, and her doctorate in media ecology from New York University. Her research has focused on the impact of new media on social institutions, particularly education and politics.
Dr. James F. “Jaimie” Birge
Birge has worked in higher education for more than 30 years. He spent much of his early career in the student affairs area followed by work with faculty and staff to integrate community-based learning into academic course objectives.
Birge has worked in public and private higher education as well as with an association of academic presidents. Most recently, his work has been in private higher education.
After serving as the executive vice president and interim president at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, Birge was recruited to become the fourth president at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire in 2009. While at Franklin Pierce, Birge and his leadership team achieved much success, including securing the largest single donor gift in University history, the largest planned gift in history, four of the six largest annual fund contributions in history, and completing the comprehensive capital campaign above goal.
His team expanded athletic programs to include: sprint football; track and cross country; women’s ice hockey; women’s bowling; and women’s golf. He increased admissions applications by 40 percent, incoming class size by 15 percent, and student retention by 8 percentage points.
Birge also oversaw construction of the Pappas Center for Health Science and Athletic Training, the Bisaccia Memorial Softball Complex, and the Kirsh Baseball Clubhouse; and implemented a faculty governance model, as well as faculty participation on the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.
Birge holds a Ph.D. in leadership studies from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., an M.Ed. in guidance and counseling from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, and a B.S. in elementary education from Westfield State University in Massachusetts.
Dr. Scott R. Furlong
Furlong is dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with responsibility over a range of programs, including general education, first year seminar program, and the primary adult degree major. He led and implemented general education reform, expanded high impact practices across campus, co-led the development of multi-institutional Engineering Technology programs, implemented a Campus Common Theme program, and started a January interim program. He has worked on a number of UW System initiatives, including the AAC&U LEAP Initiative.
Furlong started at UW-Green Bay as an assistant professor in the Department of Public and Environmental Affairs after a serving at the U.S. EPA. He received tenure in 1998 and promotion to full professor in 2005, also chairing the Department. Furlong served as co-director of UWGB’s first year experience program, leading efforts to improve the experience for students and developing a first year seminar program. He was active in faculty governance, serving on the faculty senate and chairing the senate’s executive board.
He co-authored two books, “Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives,” and “Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy,” as well as numerous articles, including those on higher education issues related to the role of high impact practices and student success. He has taught courses in political science and public policy, and often is asked to share his expertise with the media.
Furlong received his bachelor's degree in government from St. Lawrence University, and his master of public administration and Ph.D. in Political Science from American University.
Dr. S. Alan Ray
Ray stepped down after seven years of service as president and professor of religion and society at Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Ill., in June. He is in residence at Harvard Law School as a visiting scholar, conducting research on issues in higher education leadership.
Ray is a national speaker and writer on Native American issues, higher education and religious pluralism. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, his scholarship focuses on federal Indian law and Native American culture. In 2010, President Obama appointed him to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. He has served on the American Council on Education’s Commission on Leadership, and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses as an adjunct at schools including Boston College, Elmhurst College, Harvard Law and Divinity Schools, and the University of New Hampshire in Durham (UNH).
Ray worked for UNH from 2004 to 2008, first as vice provost for academic affairs, and then as senior vice provost. From 1996 to 2004, he led Harvard Law School’s faculty services office. As associate dean for academic affairs, he exercised joint responsibility with faculty leaders for curricular planning and faculty staffing. Prior to entering academic administration, Ray worked as an attorney in Los Angeles and Boston.
Ray is a graduate of the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law, and holds a Ph.D. in the study of religion from Harvard University. He received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude from the former St. Thomas Seminary College, in Denver, Colo.
Dr. Andrew Rogerson
Rogerson is the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Sonoma State University (SSU) – the only member of COPLAC from California. Rogerson received his Ph.D. in microbial ecology from the University of Stirling in Scotland, and has held faculty or research positions at the University of Toronto, the University of London, UC Santa Barbara, as well as the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
As a microbiologist, Rogerson has conducted research funded by federal agencies, including the NOAA, EPA, NSF, and NERC (UK).
Throughout his academic career, he has been a strong advocate of promoting faculty research/creative activity involving students, and his 130 publications are almost all co-authored with undergraduate or graduate students. Rogerson's experience in higher education inspired his move into administration, and he has served as associate dean at the Oceanographic Center of NSU (Florida), dean of science at Marshall University (West Virginia), and dean of science and mathematics at Fresno State (California).
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