University president selected
In a twist of an ending, the board of trustees picks Stroble as president, George as first chancellor
By: Amanda King
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News
In a surprise ending to
a 10-month presidential
search, the Webster University
board of trustees
appointed both finalists
to executive positions
Feb. 10. Elizabeth Stroble
will take over as WU's new
president July 1, while Interim
President Neil George
will be the university's first
chancellor, an advisory position
the board created to ease
the new president's transition.
The announcement ends a
search process that started in
April 2008 and peaked during
the two candidates' public
forums Jan. 14-15. Stroble, an
unknown at WU before that, is
the senior vice president, provost
and chief operating officer
at the University of Akron
in Ohio.
"I have fallen in love
with Webster," Stroble said
after the announcement.
"I cannot imagine taking
another position."
Stroble plans to move to
the St. Louis area in June after
finishing out the school year at
Akron. George will aid her in
the transition to the presidency
- a duty outlined for him
in a board of
trustees' press
release that
was short on
details concerning
the
new chancellorship.
The board
was unable to
provide an official
job description for the position,
though contracts with
both Stroble and George are
finalized.
In an interview with The
Journal Tuesday, George outlined
five areas he planned to
focus on as chancellor: developing
the university's strategic
plan, providing counsel on international
projects, fundraising,
general development and
major capital improvements.
Search committee Chairman
Ed Glotzbach called the
position a "work in progress,"
wherein George would
have leeway to define his
work. However, Glotzbach
stressed the advisory nature of
the position.
"We (the search committee
and the board) saw the advantage
of having both a president
and a chancellor to advise the
president," he said.
Come July, George will
a 10-month presidential
search, the Webster University
board of trustees
appointed both finalists
to executive positions
Feb. 10. Elizabeth Stroble
will take over as WU's new
president July 1, while Interim
President Neil George
will be the university's first
chancellor, an advisory position
the board created to ease
the new president's transition.
The announcement ends a
search process that started in
April 2008 and peaked during
the two candidates' public
forums Jan. 14-15. Stroble, an
unknown at WU before that, is
the senior vice president, provost
and chief operating officer
at the University of Akron
in Ohio.
"I have fallen in love
with Webster," Stroble said
after the announcement.
"I cannot imagine taking
another position."
Stroble plans to move to
the St. Louis area in June after
finishing out the school year at
Akron. George will aid her in
the transition to the presidency
- a duty outlined for him
in a board of
trustees' press
release that
was short on
details concerning
the
new chancellorship.
The board
was unable to
provide an official
job description for the position,
though contracts with
both Stroble and George are
finalized.
In an interview with The
Journal Tuesday, George outlined
five areas he planned to
focus on as chancellor: developing
the university's strategic
plan, providing counsel on international
projects, fundraising,
general development and
major capital improvements.
Search committee Chairman
Ed Glotzbach called the
position a "work in progress,"
wherein George would
have leeway to define his
work. However, Glotzbach
stressed the advisory nature of
the position.
"We (the search committee
and the board) saw the advantage
of having both a president
and a chancellor to advise the
president," he said.
Come July, George will
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Brian Kennelly
Brian Kennelly
posted 2/13/09 @ 5:39 PM CST
AAARGH! Webster Corporation.
Glotzbach similarly compared WU to a corporation.
"This is a restructuring of the leadership of the university that mirrors the university's changes," Glotzbach said. (Continued…)
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