Through hard work and a vision, Ohio University officials believe Sharon Brehm would bring newfound energy to Iowa State.Brehm is the first of four presidential candidates to visit the ISU campus this week.Ohio University President Robert Glidden said Brehm has been provost for five years, during which he said she has accomplished a great deal. Glidden said Brehm has led programs for everything from planning to assessment and programs for improvement.”She’s brought a great deal of energy and leadership to the provost’s office,” Glidden said. “She’s made us a more lively and vital academic institution.”Academics has been a focus for Brehm, said Michael Kellogg, vice chair of the Faculty Senate at Ohio University.”I think she’s made a major attempt to improve academic performance here at Ohio University,” said Kellogg, associate professor of music therapy. “Some of her initiatives have been really helpful at looking at student performance, faculty evaluation of students and student evaluation of faculty.”Jim Hintz, president of the Student Senate at Ohio University, said Brehm has also pushed for more research.”She sees that as an added value for universities,” he said.Hintz said most of his experiences with Brehm have been in working with the budget. He also said that at Ohio University, the provost is in charge of the budget, which ensures that academics don’t get left out of it.Glidden said Brehm has excellent leadership qualities, including being a hard worker and being well-organized.”She has a combination of great vision for things and an ability to put things into perspective,” he said. “She has a great sense of making decisions about what are action items and how to get those done in an efficient manner.”The most important aspect of university presidents are their leadership qualities, Glidden said. He also said while it is important for a president to get along well with people, no one can be a good leader and make everyone happy all of the time.”It is a matter of vision and understanding of quality and understanding of people,” Glidden said. “I think that you would find that Dr. Brehm is a very good leader of people.”Glidden said Brehm is very accessible, as well having a good public presence and a good sense of humor.”She is a very articulate person and, I think, very thoughtful,” he said. “She works very hard, but she can laugh at herself. She is well-balanced in that respect.”Also, Brehm has had a long history of good working experiences with students and faculty, Glidden said.”She gets along well with staff, too, if they’re focused and they do their job well,” he said. “She’s certainly highly respected.”Brehm has been very close to Ohio University’s Faculty Senate and receives input from the faculty often, Kellogg said.”She’s given them an opportunity to speak their mind on various issues,” he said. “She’s been very open to us as representatives of the faculty and quite friendly.”Hintz said he met with Brehm this summer along with other administrators and he also said he was able to work with her easily.”She was very welcoming,” he said. “She was willing to sit down and listen to what you have to say, and even though you might disagree on some things, she was very willing to listen. If she gets this position [as president of Iowa State], I think she’ll do a great job.”