Otterbein University’s search committee for the provost and vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) position has narrowed their candidate pool to three finalists.
The first candidate for the position, Wendy Sherman Heckler, will interview for the position on Feb. 28. Sherman Heckler currently holds the interim provost and VPAA position.
Sherman Heckler's previous experience with Otterbein includes associate vice president for academic affairs, dean of university programs, professor of education and director of graduate programs in education.
An additional candidate for the position, Sunil Ahuja, will interview following spring break. Ahuja currently serves as associate provost for academic affairs at the University of Scranton.
Ahuja's previous related roles include vice president for accreditation relations, institutional change and research for the Higher Learning Commission in Chicago and dean of the division of social sciences and human services at Lorain County Community College.
The search for a new provost and VPAA began after previous provost, Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, accepted a position as president of St. Francis College in 2017.
According to Otterbein's job posting for the position, “The provost and VPAA will provide leadership for the coordination, integration, and support of various services, programs, management functions, and activities within Academic affairs.”
The third candidate has not yet been named but is expected to interview in the weeks following spring break. An open forum for the candidates will be held this Thursday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. in Roush Hall 114.
