BY KATRINA KLINGSMITH, STAFF WRITER
Amanda Martin, former Bellarmine Student Government Association president, served on the Bellarmine presidential search committee that recently hired Dr. Susan M. Donovan as BU president. She spoke with The Concord to discuss the search and her thoughts on the hiring of Donovan.
KK: What was the search committee looking for in presidential candidates?
AM: Finding someone who really fit the culture and mission at Bellarmine University. We wanted to find someone who was approachable and open to both students and faculty.
KK: How long did the search process occur?
AM: Ernest Marshall called me last summer to ask if I would be willing to serve on the committee. A firm was put together to be compatible with the goal of finding a fit president for Bellarmine. The firm asked campus faculty, staff and students what they most valued and wanted to see from a president. We composed a job description to be posted. We met bi-weekly over the phone on occasion, as well as in person, to discuss a plan for the presidential search.
KK: How long did the interviews take?
AM: We narrowed it down to 40 candidates, then 20, then 11. We interviewed the 11 people in two days. Those days were 14-hour work days for us in the interview process. The interviews took 90 minutes each with 30-minute debriefing sessions. These interviews occurred in late January. A week later, the top candidates were brought in to answer more questions and introduce themselves on a more personal level.
KK: How many people applied for the position?
AM: There were over 200 people that applied, and it was a global search.
KK: What made Dr. Donovan stand out above the other candidates?
AM: She really fit the culture here at Bellarmine. Her references, the things she’s done, and her beliefs in Catholic education amongst other attributes made her a good fit. She believes in holistic, student-centered teaching and has a vision for the future.
KK: What was the gender ratio of the final 11 candidates?
AM: It was about half men, half women. We had a really balanced ratio of candidates.
KK: What other factors influenced the decision process?
AM: A lot of other campus universities, especially on the east coast, finishing their own searches for presidents and other administration positions. Candidates were getting positions at other schools so we came to a conclusion after the interviews.