Search committee 'excited' about final three candidates

After a seven-month search process to find Dana College’s next president, the search committee has announced the final three candidates for the position. Nearly 50 people applied for the position. After narrowing the field to eight candidates, the final three candidates were chosen based on face-to-face interviews in Omaha with this field of eight.

“ We are very excited about these high-quality candidates,” said search committee member and Dana Regent Dennis Gethmann. “There is a strong consensus within the search committee that these candidates are capable of providing effective leadership for Dana College.”

The three candidates are:

Dr. Janet Philipp — Philipp is currently campus executive officer and liberal arts dean at University of Wisconsin—Rock County. She previously was vice president for academic affairs at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Dr. Earl Robinson — Robinson was most recently president of Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C. He previously has been executive vice president for academic affairs at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, and dean and professor of business at Minot (N.D.) State University.

Dr. Troy VanAken — VanAken is vice president and executive assistant to the president at Albion College in Albion, Mich. He previously has served as assistant vice president for instruction technology at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Ind. VanAken also was an ACE Fellow at San Jose (Calif.) State University.

All three candidates will visit Dana’s campus during April. Members of the Dana community will have meetings with the candidates. Open forums will also be available to the general public. These forums will take place at 3:15 p.m. in The Forum, Margre Henningson Durham Center on the following days: April 18 — Dr. VanAken; April 21 — Dr. Robinson; April 25 — Dr. Philipp.

The search committee will use feedback from these visits to chose a final candidate to recommend to the Dana College Board of Regents. The Board’s choice will succeed President Dr. Myrvin Christopherson, who will retire effective on June 30. Christopherson will retain the title of President Emeritus and will continue to assist in college development efforts.

Dana College is a place where all students actively participate. They make things happen — in their own lives and in the lives of others. Through a highly supportive faculty and campus community, Dana students develop interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and other important values and knowledge as they make choices about their future. Dana’s outstanding academic programs in business, education and social work, among others, ensure that students have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pursue challenging careers or placement in graduate school.

Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution in Blair, Neb. To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.

Dana College: Develop talents, Take charge, Build a future — We’re with you all the way.

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For more information contact:
Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu