Search process has begun to find new GMU Senior Vice President

A new search process has begun to replace Senior VP Maurice Sherrens (photo courtesy of Jan Gouch)

George Mason’s Senior Vice President Maurice Scherrens left the university earlier this year to be the president of Newberry College. This fall, the university will begin the search process to replace his position.

 “The search is pretty routine…” said John Blacksten, director of media and public relations.

The position is posted on jobs.gmu.edu and a search committee has been assembled. The committee will evaluate applicants and the finalists will be brought on campus for public interviews.

According to Blacksten the ultimate decision will be made by President Angel Cabrera or Provost Peter Stearns. 

The committee created for the search process is made up of faculty, administrators and staff. The committee will also include external representatives. Members of the committee include Michelle Marks, the vice provost and committee chair, and Linda Harber, head of Human Resources.  

Harber said that the position has been posted to national sources such as the Chronicle of Higher Education and the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

“We are currently reviewing applications with a plan to begin the interview process this fall,” Marks said in an email. “We are hoping to conclude by the end of 2012, but we will take the time that is needed to get the right candidate.”

The details of the search process are kept confidential until the position’s finalists are decided and brought onto campus. Harber said that revealing too much information at such early stages of the search process would be a mistake for the university and could cause complications for applicants.

Some applicant qualifications mentioned in the job posting are “significant experience overseeing financial functions within higher education, state government or an organization of significant size and complexity” and “diplomatic communication skills, tact in interactions with others and keen political acumen.”

“There will be opportunities for students, Mason faculty and staff to meet finalists during campus interviews,” Marks said.