July 02, 2024

Open forums set for associate provost for student success

Two candidates for associate provost for student success at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will meet with faculty, staff and students during a series of open forums on campus, beginning Tuesday, July 9.

The two candidates, listed in alphabetical order, are:

  • Paul Ballard, whose experience includes assistant provost of student success at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
  • Shelly Gehrke, whose experience includes vice president for enrollment management and student success at Emporia State University in Kansas.

Meet the candidates

The forums give the campus community an opportunity to meet with the candidates and are in conjunction with each of the candidate’s interviews.

Each forum begins at 9 a.m. and will be hosted by the search committee. During their respective forums, the candidates will present on the topic “How to Build a Climate of Student Success in Higher Education Today” and will be followed by Q&A.

The open forum schedule is:

  • Tuesday, July 9 — Shelly Gehrke (Updated location to Morris Library, Rooms 752/754).
  • Wednesday, July 10 — Paul Ballard. (Updated location to Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium).

Reporting directly to the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, the associate provost for student success provides strategic leadership and a focus on innovation for institution-wide Saluki student success initiatives that will inspire the faculty, students and staff to greater academic excellence.

Gehrke earned her doctorate in higher education administration and master’s degree in college and university student personnel administration, both from the University of Texas at Austin, and her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and public relations from Stephen F. Austin University.

Ballard earned his doctorate in higher education leadership from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in education administration from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in learning disabilities/social studies from Hope College.

The links to view the recorded presentations are available upon request submitted to provost@siu.edu.

The links to the candidates’ full CVs, Zoom presentations and evaluation forms are available on the provost’s website.