Presidential Finalist Meets UNH Community
By Jody Record, Campus Journal Editor
April 11, 2007
The latest presidential candidate for the presidency at UNH was on campus
yesterday and is here today, giving faculty, staff and students the opportunity
to meet with him and ask questions.
Mark Huddleston, who currently serves as president of Ohio Wesleyan University,
is the latest finalist to participate in public meetings. On Tuesday he
participated in an open forum with faculty members and then traveled the
Manchester campus for a meeting with the UNH Manchester community.
Earlier today he met with members of the Durham community and UNH staff
at the Alumni Center. This afternoon, a student forum takes place from
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the MUB, room 330/332, followed by a reception tonight
at the New England Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Huddleston, who was raised in Syracuse, New York, and received his bachelor’s
degree in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo,
holds both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from
the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He returned to SUNY-Buffalo
as an assistant professor of political science in 1977. He then joined
the faculty of the University of Delaware in 1980, where he remained for
the next 24 years.
Huddleston chaired the department of political science and international
relations and served as associate provost for international programs. He
was named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2001 and served in
that capacity until he was named president of Ohio Wesleyan University
in 2004. An author of numerous books and articles, Huddleston has been
active as a consultant for both the U.S. government and international organizations.
He also served as an advisor in Bosnia on rebuilding financial and administrative
infrastructures after the Dayton accords.
In his talk with staff members, Huddleston, described himself as a “consultative
kind of decision maker.” He spoke of the similarities between UNH
and the University of Delaware, saying since he had made the move to Ohio,
he “missed the sense of mission” that comes with working at
a large university.
“It’s easier in a lot of ways at a small school,” Huddleston
said of Ohio Wesleyan, “but I found a piece was missing.”
Huddleston has connections to New England; his parents live in Vermont
and he owns a home there.
Following Huddleston’s two-day tour, the presidential search committee
will meet to discuss the visits and review the assessment forms. Based
on the feedback, they will make a determination regarding next steps.
“The search committee has focused on the top candidates, done our
due diligence, and the committee believes that Dr. Huddleston is the best
candidate to move forward at this time,” said Edward Dupont, vice
chair of the USNH Board of Trustees and chair of the search committee. “The
public campus visit is the next step in the process and will provide us
with valuable input from campus community members who participate in these
forums.”
The curriculum vita for Huddleston is available at www.unh.edu and www.usnh.edu.
In addition, copies of the CV will be available for review at the Dimond
Library reference desk and at the UNH-Manchester library.
Huddleston is the third finalist to visit UNH during this search.
UNH Interim President J. Bonnie Newman has been serving in this capacity
since the departure of former President Ann Weaver Hart in June 2006. The
13-member search committee was appointed by the USNH Board of Trustees
shortly after President Hart left office.
Assessment cards from Huddleston’s visit can be read at www.usnh.edu/unh_pres_search.
Home |
Archive |
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Contact
