The search committee for the next senior vice president for Students and Enrollment has been formed and will begin the process of searching for someone to fill that position, according to a Jan. 28 campuswide e-mail from University President Frederick Lawrence.The position has been vacant since former Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy's departure at the end of Sept. 2010. According to a Dec. 7, 2010 Justice article, the ad-hoc Administrative Structure Advisory Committee, which was formed last September, redefined the position as "an administrator who will 'focus on the recruitment, retention, quality of life and post graduation outcomes for the entire student body,' and . 'establish and execute the priorities and objectives related to undergraduate student enrollments.'"

According to Lawrence, the University has retained Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm, to aid the process of filling the position. According to Witt/Kieffer's website, it is "the preeminent executive search firm that identifies outstanding leadership solutions for organizations committed to improving the quality of life."

Lawrence wrote in his campuswide e-mail that "the 14-member committee is comprised of students, faculty, administrators, a member of the chaplaincy and a university trustee." Two undergraduates, Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 and Rebecca Bachman '13, are serving on the committee. In an e-mail to the Justice yesterday, Bachman wrote that her role on the committee is to "listen to the student body's ideas, and present the Brandeis student perspective."

Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins, who is the chair of the search committee, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice yesterday that the committee will begin its work this week. Regarding the duration of the search, he wrote, "There is no set time. . The important thing is to find the right candidate."

An ideal candidate, according to Collins, would be "a visionary leader who loves working in a collegial, team-oriented environment and deliver an outstanding student experience in a rigorous academic community."

The Student Advisory Committee to the Administrative Structure Advisory Committee, formed last semester, surveyed students about what qualities the new Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment should have, and made recommendations to the administration, according to an Oct. 12, 2010 Justice article. Bachman wrote in her e-mail to the Justice that the information from the surveys will guide the search committee's recommendations.

Bachman wrote that it is important for the new senior vice president "to be an active advocate for the students, understand what Brandeis stands for and be open to hearing student perspective on any issue that arises."


-Sara Dejene contributed

reporting.