With the departure of Sandra King from the helm of University Relations and Karen Rigg’s early retirement from the vice president for Student Affairs post, two vital leadership roles have been left vacant at the university.
Though a search committee has been actively seeking a replacement for Rigg since the early spring, a permanent candidate has not been selected. Instead, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Philomena Mantella appointed an interim VP — Ed Klotzbier, the current director of university communications early this semester. But with Sandra King’s departure to Bentley College, another vice presidency has opened up, and the question remains, who will fill the critical posts at the administrative level?
Klotzbier, who has been working in both the offices of University Communications and Student Affairs, has now reached the halfway point of his interim position, but could also be a likely candidate for King’s job, which would be a natural progression up the food chain within the office of University Relations.
“[Klotzbier] and I have not had a chance to sit down and talk about his aspirations,” said President Richard Freeland. “[Klotzbier] is a natural person to think of, but the pattern is always to do an extensive search for candidates, it is very rare at Northeastern or any quality institution to just [appoint someone]. I have the highest opinion of [Klotzbier], he seems to be doing a great job in Student Affairs. Hopefully we will find the right role at Northeastern for him, for some time to come.”
Klotzbier said he is comfortable filling whatever role the university sets out for him to fill.
“Whether it’s in Student Affairs or University Relations, or both as is currently the case, I simply want to contribute as much as I can to the success of the students, our faculty and staff and to the continued success of Northeastern,” he said. “Whatever is in store for me, I just hope I can continue to contribute in my own small way to the many, many terrific things that are going on all over campus.”
Media Relations Manager Emily Donahue, who has worked with Klotzbier within the office of University Communications since his arrival as director in June of 2001, said the general consensus around the office is that he should fill King’s shoes.
“Personally I’d love to see him back here taking the reins of University Relations, and I think that is the general consensus. People respect him,” Donahue said. “Most people here would be happy to see him back here, he could take over for [King] in a heartbeat.”
Though doubtful about Klotzbier’s appointment as interim vice president in September, Student Government Association President Michael Romano said the past two months have changed his opinion.
“I think what he doesn’t have in experience, he’ll make up in his personal approach in meeting and interacting with students. The only thing not on his side is time and uncertainty,” Romano said. “I think a lot of people were concerned at first with Klotzbier’s ability to balance almost two jobs, but honestly I think anyone who has worked with him over the past two months can really see where his priorities lie, which I think is really with the students.”
Associate Dean for Housing Services Marina Iannalfo said although Klotzbier is not trained specifically in Student Affairs, his first priority lies with the students, which is most important.
“I think Student Affairs needs to have the students well-being first and foremost in their minds and working with [Klotzbier], that is his first priority,” said Iannalfo, who reports directly to Klotzbier. “I think, from that standpoint, I think he has the skill set.”
Mantella said before she can make a decision, she must first sit down with Freeland to gauge what the timing will look like for the search to fill King’s post, but she also stressed that Klotzbier’s aspirations should also be made a priority.
“I always feel that you have to look at an issue that presents itself and try to do the right thing for the university and the right thing for the individual.” Mantella said. “And then, in fact he is enjoying what he is doing and would forgo an opportunity to move into [King’s] role, or move into the search for [King’s] role. I wouldn’t want timing to put him at a disadvantage so if that means we need to accelerate our thinking about his compatibility with this role or delay the start of the search for [King’s] position, I think we should try to be — and this is a person who stepped up when the university asked him to, you don’t want them to take the burden at hand or be counted out of something because of timing.”
King said although no particular candidate stands out in her mind, the next VP must have a comprehensive knowledge of marketing.
“If I were hiring the replacement, the one thing that I would be sure to focus on in addition to all the elements of being able to communicate a message internally and externally, the person needs to have a solid foundation in marketing, the basic techniques of marketing … and the person needs to be nimble so that they can take advantage of opportunities as they come,” she said.
Director of University Publications Rob Davison, who will serve as acting director of University Relations until a permanent candidate is named, said he will not throw his hat into the ring, but is up for future challenges the job may throw at him.
Freeland said he has great confidence in Davison and hopes the progress King made with the marketing campaign will continue. King echoed the sentiment.
“It is my baby, I am a parent of three children and I have learned that you nurture your kids to a certain point and then you have to give them wings to fly. I feel that I am at the stage where I can pass it on to someone else and have them carry the baton and do a successful job building on it. Will I be looking over my shoulder and wondering are they mucking it up? Yes.”
Romano said the university’s emphasis needs to shift away from marketing and onto the product, the students.
“I just think we’ve made aggressive efforts in how we market the university, we’ve made aggressive efforts in improving the basic facilities, but we haven’t made aggressive efforts to improve student service and academic quality at the university,” Romano said. “I think VP Klotzbier has the ability to affect change in his interim position as interim vice president for Student Affairs and as I’ve seen time progress, I’ve seen him become more involved and more passionate about dealing with students on a more personal basis.”
