With minimal input from faculty or alumnae, the trustees of the College of New Rochelle have chosen a new president. She has no advanced degree, but much experience at the school and a strong financial background. Is this a problem?
Inside Higher Ed reports that the new president of the Catholic women's college will be Judith Huntington, who currently serves as vice president for financial affairs. Her highest degree is a bachelor's degree in accounting from Pace University.
Although unhappy about the process by which the new president was chosen, many of the college's constituents seem content with the choice: “She is a very collegial individual, and I believe she has great respect for the academic mission of the college,” the chair of the faculty council says. “While I understand the concerns of others and respect and share the concern for the procedures that were followed in this case, we're all best served at this juncture to be behind her.”
For their part, trustees emphasized that Huntington's financial acumen made her the top candidate: “Although financial needs and educational needs are both part of the picture, in the College of New Rochelle's case, financial needs are absolutely paramount at this time,” said one board member. “We felt that the crying need for the college over the long haul was financial in order to keep it alive, and without that, we were nowhere.”
These quotations are taken from the excellent article about the search in Inside Higher Ed, which details both the process and the controversy surrounding the trustees' choice. It's well worth reading here.
