Two years ago, in May 2015, Bruce Hamilton,then director of the Memorial Union, retired after 35 years of service. Hamilton was noted in the Cigar as a “friend of students,” and honored by the University as a “fearless leader.”
Since then, the Union’s Search Committee has been looking continuously for a worthy successor. In the words of Search Committee Chair Jacqui Tisdale, “we’ve been searching not only for a leader, but a visionary.” That search is now entering its final stages.
The four finalists for the Director position, George Micalone, Heather Nunes, Maureen McDermott, and Katherine Poirier, interview for a final time and meet with student organization leaders this week.
Each candidate has extensive experience in Student Affairs. McDermott has been the interim director of the Union since June 2015; Nunes was an interim associate director of programs at Virginia Commonwealth State University; Poirier was associate director of the Department of the Student Center at Central Connecticut State University; and Micalone was director of Student Activities and director of the Memorial Union at Iowa State University.
Tisdale explained the current state of the search process, which depends on feedback from students impacted by the choice of Director.
“This is the end point of the search. After this week, Dr. Collins [Vice President of Student Affairs] will make her decision based on feedback from the [student luncheon] events,” she said.
Two luncheon events, open to all student leaders, and held in the Senate Chambers have already been held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Two more are planned for Thursday, Feb. 16 and Friday, Feb. 17 from 12 to 1 p.m. These luncheons are meant for student leaders from around campus to meet with the candidates, as their clubs and organizations are directly affected by the Union’s administration.
Students with questions about the search process may contact Jacqui Tisdale through email at [email protected].
Joseph Essig is an employee of the Department of Housing and Residential Life, which is a part of the Division of Student Affairs.