A search committee has named finalists for the vice president for Student Affairs position, and there is one internal candidate on the list.
Ohio University Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi — along with Corey King,
associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students at Florida Atlantic University and Brandi Hephner LaBanc, associate vice president for Student Affairs at Northern Illinois University — will interview on campus throughout next week.
OU’s current vice president for Student Affairs, Kent Smith, announced in
January that he is leaving at the end of this year to become the next president of Langston University in Oklahoma.
“I was nominated for (the position), but I had certainly intended to apply for it
from the start after we heard that Dr. Smith was leaving,” Lombardi said. “For the last year, I’ve been running our division of Student Affairs on a day-to-day basis (while) Dr. Smith has been doing more external work.”
Becoming a vice president at a university is an aspiration of Lombardi’s, he said.
“At OU, the vice president for Student Affairs has to be a staunch advocate and
highly engaged with students, and I think that fits with my style of leadership,” he said.
In a cover letter submitted to OU, King noted his experience in budget
management and staff supervision as well as in building “strong campus relationships.”
“I have a strong track record for having strong connections with students, faculty staff and parents,” King said in the letter. “I have enjoyed progressively responsible experience within student affairs and retention services through a successful record of administration.”
LeBanc noted the importance of student development in her cover letter.
“My day-to-day working philosophies are deeply rooted in student and adult
development theory,” LeBanc said in the letter. “Therefore, assuring that meaningful connections exit between curricular and co-curricular initiatives is paramount to my practice.”
OU hopes to fill the position by June 1. Smith earned $205,842 in his position as vice president.
