Three finalists for the presidency of Grand Valley State University have been selected and will be on campus over three days this week, Dorothy Johnson, chair of the 14-member presidential search committee announced last Friday.
The candidates are Ronald L. Applbaum, president of Kean University in Union, New Jersey; Owen Francis Cargol, president of The University of Maine at Augusta, and Mark Murray, treasurer of the State of Michigan and education policy advisor to the governor.
The pool was diverse, with very qualified applicants from throughout the nation, Johnson said. The committee is proud and enthusiastic about the candidates we're presenting to the Board of Trustees, she added.
Donna Brooks, chair of the GVSU Board of Trustees, thanked the search committee for its work. The committee is to be commended for a job well done. We look forward to having the candidates on campus, Brooks said.
The Candidates in Brief
Ronald L. Applbaum,
57, has been Kean University's (NJ) president since July 1996. His experience also includes service as president of Westfield (MA) State College (1990-96); vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas-Pan American (1982-89); and dean of humanities at California State University, Long Beach (1977-82).Applbaum holds a Ph.D. in speech communication from Pennsylvania State University, with bachelor's and master's degrees, also in speech communication, both from Cal State, Long Beach.
Owen Francis Cargol,
50, has been president of The University of Maine, Augusta, since August 1996. From 1993-96 he was president of Cleveland State Community College in Tennessee; vice president for academic affairs at Highline College in Seattle (1987-93); associate dean of business administration at Louisiana State University (1986-87); and dean of instruction at North Idaho College (1981-86).He holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Penn State; a master's in adult and higher education administration from Oregon State; a bachelor's in horticulture from Oregon State; and a bachelor's in business administration from LSU.
Cargol also completed postdoctoral studies at Harvard University and was a Fulbright Fellow to Germany.
Mark Murray,
46, has been state treasurer and education policy advisor to the governor since 1999. Prior to that, he served as vice president for finance and operation at Michigan State University (1998-99). From 1994-98 he was director of the Michigan Department of Management and Budget. He served as acting director of the Family Independence Agency from 1996-97; was deputy state budget director from 1991-94; and held various other posts in state government during both the Blanchard and Milliken administrations.Murray holds a Master's degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State, and a bachelor's in economics, also from MSU.
Interview Dates with Candidates:
February 28 Ronald L. Applbaum
March 1 Mark Murray
March 2 Owen Francis Cargol
Interview Schedule with GVSU Presidential Candidates:
8:00-9:00 a.m. Staff, Alumni House
9:15-10:15 a.m. Executive Officers/Board of Trustees, Alumni House
10:30-11:15 a.m. Campus Tour, Alumni House
11:30-1:00 p.m. Deans, Alumni House
1:30-2:30 p.m. Students, Kirkhof Center, Grand River Room
3:00-4:00 p.m. Faculty, Kirkhof Center, Grand River Room
5:00-7:00 p.m. Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students DeVos Regency Room
This schedule will enable the campus community and the public to meet and question the candidates prior to their formal public interviews with the Board of Trustees. Following the February 28-March 2 sessions on campus, the GVSU Board of Trustees will interview the candidates in public on March 14.
