Dean of Students candidate discusses vision at forum

The search for the new Dean of Students continued with the third open forum for candidate Pamela Anthony on Tuesday.

Anthony is one of four candidates that have been invited to open forums on campus to discuss their ideas for the Dean of Students position and answer students, faculty and staff questions.

“I firmly believe in the student experience and being involved on campus,” Anthony said, who recently received her Ph. D. in educational policy studies from Georgia State University.

Anthony’s 20-minute presentation focused on her philosophy and vision of what the role of the Dean of Students is and her skills for that position.

“I am looking very selectively,” Anthony said about choosing Iowa State as a place to further her career. Anthony has either worked or studied at five different universities, including the University of Alaska Fairbanks where she worked for four years.

“College should be a place where discovery should be expected and encouraged.”

Anthony believes that the Dean of Students and that office need to be there for students as they make discoveries during their college experiences, both good and bad.

“We don’t want them [students] to just graduate with a degree,” Anthony said, “we want them to graduate with some life skills.”

Anthony described the position of the Dean of Students as the “change agent” who must assist in making college accessible, help retain students and to deal with university “risks” such as student behavioral issues and campus safety.

Being apart of student, faculty and staff activities was a major aspect of Anthony’s presentation. She wishes to be visible and approachable in working with those on the university.

After the presentation, the forum was open for questions from the 43 member audience.

Questions ranged from diversity issues to legal matters that the Dean of Students may have to deal with.

Anthony explained during the question and answer that she encourages students to “appropriately” address administrators about policy issues.

Anthony finished the forum by asking those in attendance some questions of her own. She asked about what they expected from the future Dean of Students and what students and faculty felt Iowa State could be doing better.

Anthony has been the assistant Dean of Students at Georgia State University since 2003.

Adam Goldstein and Miron Billingsley are two candidates that appeared on campus on April 24 and 27.

The final candidate for this position, Terry Mena, will hold their open forum at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the Cardinal Room of the Memorial Union.