Hendricks Chapel Dean Search Committee Named

Hendricks Chapel

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud has announced the appointment of a search committee to identify the next dean of Hendricks Chapel. The committee includes faculty, staff, student, trustee and community representatives and will be co-chaired by Hendricks Chapel Interim Dean Sam Clemence and Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Candace Campbell Jackson.

Committee members are:

• Andrew Clark, senior associate vice president, Operational Excellence
• Rabbi Leah Fein, Hillel Center and Jewish Chaplaincy
• Daniel Feng, community representative
• Mara Julin, student representative
• Joan Nicholson, University Board of Trustees
• Martha Sutter, director and assistant professor, Setnor School of Music
• David VanSlyke, dean, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Executive recruiting firm Witt/Kieffer has been retained to assist the committee with the search.

As part of the search process, the committee will draw on the work of the Hendricks Chapel Study Committee, which was tasked last spring with reviewing the chapel’s existing programs, facilities and finances, as well as current and emerging challenges and opportunities for enhancing its role and impact on University life. The committee also was charged with developing a clear vision and goals for the chapel and its leadership team going forward.

The study committee, also chaired by Clemence and Jackson, has been collecting information both internally, from students, faculty, staff and other chapel stakeholders, and externally, from peer universities. It focused much of its attention on two questions: 1) Who uses the chapel now and why? 2) What would encourage more people to engage with the chapel, its facilities and services?

Among the preliminary recommendations emerging from the study committee’s findings to date:

• Develop new or modify/align existing Hendricks Chapel religious programs and services in support of Hendricks Chapel’s mission and vision statements.
  • Reaffirm the chapel as a crucial religious component of University life.
  • Expand programs related to diversity and inclusion.
  • Recognize music and arts programming as mission-critical.
• Affirm and sustain Hendricks Chapel’s importance to the University through enhanced financial, developmental and organizational support.
  • Enhance development infrastructure.
  • Assure appropriate compensation and maximize resources.
  • Expand dean support.
  • Ensure adequate facilities.
• Convey regularly updated information about Hendricks Chapel’s programs and services to the campus community and beyond.
  • Bolster communications efforts.
  • Enhance data collection.
• Engage the University community and beyond more completely with Hendricks Chapel.
  • Further diversify programming beyond chapel walls.
  • Establish Hendricks Chapel as a locus for disaster relief.

The study committee expects to submit its report to the Chancellor by mid-October.