”The advantage could be … a fresh set of eyes,” said Mark Gearan, president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, who was hired in 1999 from the directorship of the Peace Corps



”The advantage could be … a fresh set of eyes,” said Mark Gearan, president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, who was hired in 1999 from the directorship of the Peace Corps

3 colleges seek new presidents

Jobs' wide requirements, skills range make it an arduous process.

By Matthew Daneman
Staff Writer

(June 16, 2004) — Help wanted: A champion of academics, a Midas at fundraising and a master at being the public face of an institution of higher learning.

Apply to University of Rochester.

Or State University College at Brockport.

Or Nazareth College.

Each is searching for a new president — not only the most important job on campus, but also one of the most important in the Rochester area as higher education increasingly becomes a key component of the regional economy.

Fresh set of eyes

”The advantage could be … a fresh set of eyes,” said Mark Gearan, president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, who was hired in 1999 from the directorship of the Peace Corps. “The disadvantage, of course, is that you don’t have the personal experiences of going through the academic route and being able to personally appreciate the rigors of getting one’s Ph.D. and tenure.”

Gearan said presidents increasingly must focus on managerial aspects of the job, such as overseeing the budget and the endowment.