BY CORIE LYNN
In the first week of May, Fort Hays State University named Dr. Jill Arensdorf as the new University Provost.
According to Deborah Ludwig, Library Dean and the Provost Search Committee Chair, the process of finding someone to fill the position of Provost began in December.
The search committee was made up of a range FHSU faculty as well as students, including the former Student Government Association Vice President Kayelani Kirschbaum.
Dean Ludwig stated that the committee narrowed down a pool of candidates to eleven, then again to five following interviews with each one.
“We wanted somebody who really understands the role of a regional comprehensive institution, which is different than being a big research institution or a community college,” she said, “We really wanted people who understood what our mission is in terms of providing quality education for students from a variety of backgrounds. We wanted somebody who would appreciate Fort Hays because it is a unique place and a lot of us feel a lot of love for this university and so we wanted somebody who gets us.”
In a description of the role, it was also stated that the Provost was to be someone who would “support teaching, scholarship, and public service” at the university, extending to students on and off campus.
With this in mind, the position was offered to Dr. Arensdorf, a candidate who has worked at Fort Hays State for seventeen years and most recently as the Chair of Leadership Studies.
In fact, she cites her experience with the university online and in the classroom as well as her own background in agriculture as strengths she brings to the position.
“The other thing that I think I bring that’s unique in my background in leadership. That’s what I’ve studied. That’s what I’ve taught for seventeen years, and so I feel like with that background I can really help shape and mold the team at the institution to help move us forward,” said Dr. Arensdorf.
She went on to explain that she was excited for the leadership of President Mason as well as for the university’s strategic plan. For these reasons, and because of the skills she has developed, Dr. Arensdorf felt that it would be the right moment to assist the Fort Hays by taking on the role of Provost.
“I knew eventually, at some point in my academic career that I’d maybe see myself in a provostial role,” she said, “I didn’t dream that it would be this early in my career, but that’s okay. I feel like I have the skill set necessary and I have that experience in all of our delivery modalities at Fort Hays that I can bring to the role.
As Dr. Arensdorf takes on her new mantle, she is already looking forward to beginning to work within the Office of the Provost.
She said that in the beginning, one of her first tasks would be to familiarize herself with the colleges and departments at the university that she hadn’t previously spent much time working with.
“I know the institution fairly well, but it’s been at a chair level and a departmental level, so I need to take some time to get to know the institution and obviously understand the inner workings of the Provost office and the Provost role,” said Dr. Arensdorf.
Dr. Arensdorf went on to explain that she will also familiarize herself with the programs she’d be involved in and the team she will be working with. This includes beginning to work with the strategic plan.
“I know it’s a high priority for the institution and getting it approved and start the implementation of that, so that will be a high priority for me as well moving into the role,” she said.
As Dr. Arensdorf begins her work as Provost, overseeing the academic affairs on the university and working with Dr. Mason, she will step into a position to help move Fort Hays, its students and staff, forward.
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