Open forums scheduled for four SU director of public safety candidates

Open forums scheduled for four SU director of public safety candidatesNovember 08, 2001Kevin Morrowkdmorrow@syr.edu

The Syracuse University community will meet each of the four finalists for the position of director of public safety through a series of forums held over a two-week period beginning Monday, Nov. 12.

The finalists are Marlene Hall, deputy chief of the Lavergne, Tenn., Police Department and former head of crime prevention for Vanderbilt University and Medical Center; William Ferguson, acting director of public safety at SU; Jeffery Horton, director of public safety at Villanova University; and Lisa Sprague, director of public safety at Truman State (Missouri) University.

As part of the interview process, each candidate will participate in an open forum on campus. Students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to observe each candidate, ask questions, and provide written feedback to the director of public safety search committee.

“Selecting a candidate who will work well with students, as well as other members of the University community, is a primary interest of the search committee,” says Dean of Students Anastasia L. Urtz, the search committee chair. “The open forum will provide a mechanism for gathering a broad base of opinion about each candidate.”

All four forums will take place in The Underground of the Schine Student Center. The schedule: 

• Marlene Hall, Monday Nov. 12, 4 to 5:30 p.m. 
• William Ferguson, Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m. 
• Jeffery Horton, Monday, Nov. 19, 4 to 5:30 p.m. 
• Lisa Sprague, Monday, Nov. 26, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Ferguson was named acting director in January 2001, following the departure of Robert T. Robinson, associate vice president for public safety.

In May 2001, the University hired the search firm of Spelman and Johnson, specialists in higher education, to assist the search committee. A Spelman and Johnson consultant came to campus in July to interview key individuals to acquire information to facilitate a national search. The search produced four finalists who will each participate in a two-day, on-campus interview process. The candidates will meet with Senior Vice President for Human Services and Government Relations Eleanor Ware (to whom the director reports), Department of Public Safety staff, students and other individuals from the University community.

Along with the interview schedule, each candidate will have an extensive background check. Upon completion of this process, the search committee will make its final recommendation to Ware. The new director is expected to be in place by January 2002.