Search for multiple dean candidates continues

Photo courtesy of Photo Editor, Faith Zatlukal

The search for the new Inaugural Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences and a Dean for the Ella Cline Shear School of Education here at SUNY Geneseo has been well underway. The search committees for the respective schools have been working since late February 2025. Anyone within the college’s Geneseo email system can look into each candidate’s individual curriculum vitae and cover letter to get an even better feel for who people might want to be their school’s leaders. 

In the past few weeks, some candidates from both departments have already held on-campus open forums to connect more with the campus community. Students, staff, administrators, and faculty were able to go and have the chance to meet with and talk to each prospective candidate before further deliberations were held. 

Additionally, for a limited time after each open forum, anyone could send feedback to the search committees via a Google Form to give initial impressions and opinions for candidates they have interacted with. Questions include rating the overall confidence of the candidate’s ability to perform well with the responsibilities of the role, any notable concerns or strengths of the candidate, and an optional miscellaneous comment(s) section, for sharing extra observations an individual feels is important for the school to know.

For the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Education, choosing the best candidate for the dean position is crucial for ensuring the schools run effectively. With over 18 departments covering Anthropology, History, Sociology, and many more, it is the largest academic discipline in the college. Being overseen by a dean who values curiosity and engagement will ensure that the various departments continue to thrive in their academic and learning-centered objectives. 

The Ella Cline Shear School of Education’s (ECS SOE) continued success in leadership is also important, especially given the notoriety of this institution’s teaching program. In 2023 alone, education majors made up over 16 percent of Geneseo graduates, reinforcing the popularity and success of the SOE.

The reputation of the program, though, might also be why on Mar. 10, an email went out to all students and staff from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mary Toale stating, “After considerable deliberation and review, I have made the difficult decision to not move forward with the search. I am in conversation with the members of the ECS SOE as I consider [the] next steps.” This means Dr. Jeanne Galbraith will continue to serve as the SOE’s interim dean.   

Additionally, a newly appointed Associate Dean for the School of Business joined the Geneseo community on Feb. 27. Lisa Wilder, who was previously the inaugural dean of Albright College’s online School of Business and Professional Studies program, is now working with the Dean of the School of Business, Lerong He. She is committed to giving SUNY Geneseo further opportunities for its students, and her extensive 24-year career at Albright makes her a qualified individual for our business undergraduates, as explained on the Geneseo website. 

Although unable to attend any open forums, a connection was made with a potential candidate, Carin Silkaitis, for the School of Arts & Sciences. Silkaitis has a career of over two decades in higher education administration and higher education, working tirelessly towards her various communities at the colleges she’s served at. From being Department Chair of Art and Theatre at North Central College to being a Faculty Fellow on Columbia College Chicago’s Antiracism Transformation Team, Silkaitis is a candidate with a variety of applicable knowledge and experience. Silkaitis is currently working as the interim provost for the University of Alaska Southeast. 

Unfortunately, an interview with Silkaitis could not be conducted due to confidentiality issues related to the candidate search, as candidates are still being interviewed during the week of Mar. 10 to 14. She did explain, however, that if she were to be selected as the candidate, then she would be happy to talk with students and The Lamron about her plans as dean of the school. 

While the searches continue, it can be assured that whoever the college chooses to fulfill these positions will have their prospective department’s and Geneseo’s interests at heart. With that in mind, for all those enrolled as a student at Geneseo, please keep an eye on your email inbox for extensive resumes and potential times to meet the candidates for the Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences position.