By Courtney Klaus, Editor-In-Chief
After the departure of four administrators over the past year, this semester, the president’s cabinet has expanded to include a number of new faces - including some in positions not previously incorporated in the cabinet.
The new cabinet is made up of Interim President Teresa Hall Bartels, Provost Kim Long, Vice President of Finance and Administration Jennifer Gantz, Vice President for Enrollment Management Paul Carney, Director of Mission Effectiveness Sister Charlotte Rohrbach, Dean of Students Christine Schneikart-Luebbe, Athletic Director Joanna Pryor and Director of University Relations Clark Schafer.
In previous years, the cabinet consisted only of members who held the title of vice president. Rohrbach, Schneikart-Luebbe, Pryor, and Schafer, who are directors and not vice presidents, each occupy spots on the cabinet that were newly added.
Bartels said she made the decision to make her cabinet larger because she wanted to hear from a variety of different people and was sensitive to the perspectives that may be lost with the departure of J.V. Johnston, former vice president of university relations, and Gantz.
“It appeared to me that I needed a broad group of voices to provide the best advice and decision making at the cabinet level...I think it allows for good communication across the university, between the various segments of our community,” Bartels said.
Bartels said she added the dean of students position to the cabinet after members of the Student Government Association expressed a desire for a vice president of student affairs position to be added to the previous cabinet.
Schneikart-Luebbe said she is glad to be in the new cabinet to provide a voice for the Student Life Department.
“I’m delighted that Student Affairs has a voice at the table. I always think it’s important… The student is, it’s why we’re here. Having engaged, diverse voices at the table behooves all of us. My hat is off to Teresa for recognizing the value of diverse perspectives,” Schneikhart-Luebbe said.
The new cabinet has met once so far this semester.
PHOTO: Courtesy Photo, Newman Advancement
