2008 Woodie Awards
Final 2 candidates for VP of student affairs visit campus
Laura Bryant & Ben Garbarek
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Campus
The search to fill the position of vice president for student affairs is closer to completion after the final two candidates came to campus for forums with members of Miami University's student body, faculty and staff.
The forums were held Monday and Wednesday, presenting candidate Barbara Jones, assistant chancellor for student affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Ricardo Maestas, vice president for student and university relations and dean of students at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, respectively.
Jones said she was not looking for a job until the position of VP of student affairs opened up at Miami.
"I found this university fascinating," Jones said. "I thought 'if this job ever opened up I'd put my hat in' and here I am."
Jones also said it was the students at Miami that particularly attracted her, due to their level of involvement with the university.
"(I'm impressed by) how engaged the students already are," Jones said. "They're committed to being involved."
She said she is drawn to the atmosphere of Miami's campus and its surroundings.
"Some people talk about army brats, well I'm a university brat," Jones said. "The atmosphere of a university town is something you can't beat."
One issue Jones is committed to is combating the use of alcohol. Although she does not have any plans for Miami if she were to be hired, Jones recounted her history dealing with alcohol issues in the past, specifically at UW-Whitewater.
Jones pointed out that students in Wisconsin are 10 to 20 percent higher than the national average for high school alcohol consumption.
"Certainly alcohol is an issue; it's part of the culture in Wisconsin," she said.
However, Jones said the solution to this problem is, in part, providing students with opportunities that don't involve drinking.
The final candidate, Maetas, agreed that Miami's surroundings add appeal to the university.
The forums were held Monday and Wednesday, presenting candidate Barbara Jones, assistant chancellor for student affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Ricardo Maestas, vice president for student and university relations and dean of students at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, respectively.
Jones said she was not looking for a job until the position of VP of student affairs opened up at Miami.
"I found this university fascinating," Jones said. "I thought 'if this job ever opened up I'd put my hat in' and here I am."
Jones also said it was the students at Miami that particularly attracted her, due to their level of involvement with the university.
"(I'm impressed by) how engaged the students already are," Jones said. "They're committed to being involved."
She said she is drawn to the atmosphere of Miami's campus and its surroundings.
"Some people talk about army brats, well I'm a university brat," Jones said. "The atmosphere of a university town is something you can't beat."
One issue Jones is committed to is combating the use of alcohol. Although she does not have any plans for Miami if she were to be hired, Jones recounted her history dealing with alcohol issues in the past, specifically at UW-Whitewater.
Jones pointed out that students in Wisconsin are 10 to 20 percent higher than the national average for high school alcohol consumption.
"Certainly alcohol is an issue; it's part of the culture in Wisconsin," she said.
However, Jones said the solution to this problem is, in part, providing students with opportunities that don't involve drinking.
The final candidate, Maetas, agreed that Miami's surroundings add appeal to the university.
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