Richard
H. Wells
Presidential hopeful, Wells, visits campus
By Cristina Madrid
Contributing Writer
After President Robert C. Maxson announced his plans for retirement earlier
this year, a presidential search committee began to contact the nation’s
top administrative educators, such as University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Chancellor,
Robert H. Wells, as possible candidates for the presidency of CSULB. According
to its Web site, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is the third largest university
in the state, and the largest of all UW campuses.
Wells is currently serving not only as chancellor, but also as a professor of
sociology, and has more than 30 years of experience in education. His previous
positions include provost and vice president for academic affairs at Indiana
State University, and dean of the college of arts and sciences at West Chester
University in Pennsylvania.
“
I guess [using] my rather extensive experience in the academic communities
and working with diverse communities to hold them together for the best is
my
goal,” he said.
Wells, holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Texas A&M University, and has attended
other Mid-western universities for his master’s and bachelor’s
degrees.
He has yet to experience west coast culture and academia, “I don’t
have a lot of experience with the West, but I do have a lot of experience in
political, social and economical environments regionally,” he said. He
added that his experience as a sociologist has prepared him for the challenge
of leading such a diverse campus as ours.
The key is to “work and listen to the particular needs of the people to
make progress,” he said.
Wells will outline his plan for presidency Tuesday, Oct. 18, at two public forums.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to meet and ask questions at the Associated
Students, Inc. office in the conference room of the University Student Union
from 1:30-2:15 p.m., and an open forum for the campus community will be held
at the Horn Center from 3:00-4:15 p.m.
Ultimately, the decision of who will be the next president for CSULB will fall
on the shoulders of a CSU presidential search committee, but this week, students,
faculty and staff will have their chance to meet the candidates and choose their
favorite.
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