2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty to Bradley: Unite us!
Faculty urge new president to bring the university together
Michelle Pattison
Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: Campus
With the appointment of Daniel Bradley as ISU's 11th president, ISU's faculty and staff are hopeful about the future of ISU and Bradley.
Director of the University Honors Program and professor of geography Greg Bierly said, "I look forward to seeing (Bradley) apply his experience as a president and taking ISU forward. He has an opportunity to lead us."
Larry Tinnerman, an assistant professor of curriculum, instruction and media technology, said, "I am very exited that the search committee has selected such a wonderful candidate. Change is good. … I am optimistic for the future."
There are several issues that the many faculty members seem to agree should be at the top of the president's priority list.
"We still don't seem to know what this university is here for," said Keith Byerman, a professor of English and women's studies. "We need to clearly define our goals and figure out how we can go about (providing a quality education)."
Virgil Sheets, chair of the Faculty Senate and head of the psychology and sociology departments, said in his opinion, the new president would ideally bring the faculty, administration, and students together to move ISU in one united direction for the future.
Instructor of criminology and criminal justice Melissa Benningfield agreed.
"I would like to see him unite and strengthen the university," she said. "He needs to be a respectable representative of the university. I want to know that (Bradley) is there to support us."
Bradley's experience as president of Fairmont State University was a key factor in determining him as the Board of Trustee's pick for president, Mike Alley, president of the Board of Trustees, said. His experience seemed to enthuse faculty members.
Byerman said he was very impressed with Bradley during his visit in June.
"He gave tough answers to the questions," he said. "He didn't say what he thought people wanted to hear but said what they needed to hear. He seemed the most presidential, though, in the way he came across. He seemed to have a grasp of what it would take to go forward as a university."
"I'm confident that his experiences will lead ISU in a good direction and allow him to deal with the issues that ISU is facing," Bierly said. "He is coming in at an interesting time as far as higher education in Indiana goes. I fully expect he'll lead us and take advantage of the opportunities that he can."
"There is no learning curve for him," Byerman said. "FSU is roughly comparable to ISU so he can get to work immediately. I also liked the fact that he has been a productive researcher and is well-established in his field. He is going to understand the needs of faculty in a place like (ISU)."
There was some concern that ISU's next president is yet another in a line of white males, however.
"I was disappointed to see that ISU's three finalists were all white males," Byerman said. "There were no women or minorities. We seem to carry on this eternal ISU tradition of white males."
Purdue University named France Cordova, a Hispanic woman, as its president in July 2007.
Director of the University Honors Program and professor of geography Greg Bierly said, "I look forward to seeing (Bradley) apply his experience as a president and taking ISU forward. He has an opportunity to lead us."
Larry Tinnerman, an assistant professor of curriculum, instruction and media technology, said, "I am very exited that the search committee has selected such a wonderful candidate. Change is good. … I am optimistic for the future."
There are several issues that the many faculty members seem to agree should be at the top of the president's priority list.
"We still don't seem to know what this university is here for," said Keith Byerman, a professor of English and women's studies. "We need to clearly define our goals and figure out how we can go about (providing a quality education)."
Virgil Sheets, chair of the Faculty Senate and head of the psychology and sociology departments, said in his opinion, the new president would ideally bring the faculty, administration, and students together to move ISU in one united direction for the future.
Instructor of criminology and criminal justice Melissa Benningfield agreed.
"I would like to see him unite and strengthen the university," she said. "He needs to be a respectable representative of the university. I want to know that (Bradley) is there to support us."
Bradley's experience as president of Fairmont State University was a key factor in determining him as the Board of Trustee's pick for president, Mike Alley, president of the Board of Trustees, said. His experience seemed to enthuse faculty members.
Byerman said he was very impressed with Bradley during his visit in June.
"He gave tough answers to the questions," he said. "He didn't say what he thought people wanted to hear but said what they needed to hear. He seemed the most presidential, though, in the way he came across. He seemed to have a grasp of what it would take to go forward as a university."
"I'm confident that his experiences will lead ISU in a good direction and allow him to deal with the issues that ISU is facing," Bierly said. "He is coming in at an interesting time as far as higher education in Indiana goes. I fully expect he'll lead us and take advantage of the opportunities that he can."
"There is no learning curve for him," Byerman said. "FSU is roughly comparable to ISU so he can get to work immediately. I also liked the fact that he has been a productive researcher and is well-established in his field. He is going to understand the needs of faculty in a place like (ISU)."
There was some concern that ISU's next president is yet another in a line of white males, however.
"I was disappointed to see that ISU's three finalists were all white males," Byerman said. "There were no women or minorities. We seem to carry on this eternal ISU tradition of white males."
Purdue University named France Cordova, a Hispanic woman, as its president in July 2007.
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