August 29, 2012

CES director finalist forums begin Friday

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Five finalists seeking to become director of the new Center for Exploratory Students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will participate in open forums beginning next week.

The candidates are: Dedria Blakely, dean of student services at Shawnee Community College; Danielle Johnson, assistant director of Life STEPS-TriO at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana; Cornelius Gilbert, academic adviser with Cross College Advising Service at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Jeannie Killian, interim director for the Center for Academic Success at SIU Carbondale; and Veronica Williams, director of Twenty-first Century Scholars Program at the Wabash Valley Regional Support Site of Indiana State University.

Blakely's presentation and open forum is at 9 a.m., Friday, Aug. 31, in Woody Hall, room B202.

Other candidates will be participating in open forums and interviews on campus the following days:

  • Sept. 11 -- Danielle Johnson
  • Sept. 12 -- Cornelius Gilbert
  •  Sept. 14 -- Jeannie Killian
  • To Be Determined -- Veronica Williams

Johnson's open forum and presentation will be at 9 a.m. on Sept. 11, in Woody Hall, Room B202.  Times for other open forums will be given as the itineraries are set.

Presentations and open forums give the campus community the opportunity to meet the finalists, hear their ideas for our campus, and provide feedback to the search committee.

The Center for Exploratory Students will combine the strengths of the Center for Academic Excellence and Pre-Major Advising better to serve SIU Carbondale students.