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Search for vice president almost over
The search for a new vice president for university advancement has reached its penultimate stage.
Three finalists have been identified and will be making appearances on campus within the next eight days. As part of the hiring process, they will each have to take part in an open forum before the final decision is made.
The position was made vacant when Shawn Teal, its previous occupant, resigned in October. Teal took up the position of executive to the president of St. John's University. Teal was the fourth SCSU vice president to resign since May 1, when Gene Gilchrist, vice president of administrative affairs left the university. In June, both Suzanne Williams, vice president for academic affairs, and Robert Bayne, vice president for student life and development, resigned.
David Williams, currently vice president for development at Ripon College, Wis., will be the first candidate to attend the open forum. Williams will be on campus Tuesday at the Atwood Theater between 2 and 3 p.m.
Williams graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor's in German from Beloit College, Wis. He then received his Master's in the same field in 1973 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Williams was an admissions counselor at Beloit College between August, 1970 and June, 1972. He was later the associate director of admissions there until June, 1975, when he joined Ripon College as director of the annual fund.
In 1978, Williams was made director of corporate and foundation relations. He was appointed to his present position in May, 1990.
"I'm interested (in the post) for a variety of reasons," Williams said. "St. Cloud State looks like a fascinating university. After 12 years (as vice president at Ripon College), it's time to make a change. Primarily, it's to take the skills that I have and put it in another university."
Williams organized one capital campaign at Ripon College between 1990 and 1996 that raised $40 million. He is now midway through another one. The second campaign kicked off in 1999 with a $55 million target and so far, the college has collected $24 million.
"I'm very much a people person," Williams said. "I absolutely enjoy getting to know alumni and students. I have an ability to just get out, make friends and help connect these friends to the institution."
Jill Rudnitski, at present the director of corporate and foundation relations at the University of Minnesota, will be the second candidate to hold an open forum. Efforts to contact Rudnitski, who will be on campus Wednesday between 2 and 3 p.m. at the Voyageurs North room in Atwood Memorial Center, were unsuccessful.
Rudnitski obtained a double degree in geography and environmental studies in 1982 before receiving a master's in information media in 1988. Both were done at SCSU. She obtained a second master's, this time in geography, from the University of North Dakota in 1989.
Rudnitski was hired as the director of prospect research at the College of St. Benedict in January, 1989. She held that position until June, 1990, when she moved to the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology.
From January, 1993 to June, 1997, Rudnitski took up the position of director of corporate and foundation relations at Washington State University. She was also the vice president of the WSU Foundation. She moved to her present position at the U of M in July, 1997.
The final candidate, James Stigman, will be on campus Feb. 19 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Voyageurs South room in Atwood. Many SCSU staff may be familiar with Stigman, as he worked for five years here before resigning in September, 2001 due to personal reasons.
Stigman graduated from SCSU in 1990 with a Bachelor's in Public Administration and then spent a year doing graduate work in management and administration at Metropolitan State University.
Stigman began work at SCSU in March, 1996 when he was appointed director of alumni relations. That position was expanded in July, 1998 and renamed director of alumni relations and annual giving. It was this post that Stigman resigned from in 2001.
"I left St. Cloud State for personal reasons," Stigman said. "My wife was battling breast cancer. It was difficult to leave, but first and foremost in my mind is always family."
At that time, Stigman thought his wife was getting better, but three weeks later, the couple found out that the cancer had returned. At the moment, the cancer has been taken care of, but the couple are keeping their fingers crossed that it is gone for good this time.
Stigman also wanted to try his hand at business. He started a company called Innova Group and is currently its president.
"I have always thought that I had entrepreneurial skills in me," he said. "This gave me the opportunity to try them out."
Stigman's business is doing well now and he wants to return to SCSU. He intends to leave most of his business dealings up to his partner, should he be hired.
"Obviously, for the most part, I won't be able to spend a lot of time (at my business office)," he said. "The vast majority of my time will be spent at St. Cloud State."
Stigman believes his experience at SCSU will hold him in good stead. Part of that experience was being a part of SCSU's first capital campaign from 1996 to 2001 that raised about $27 million.
"But you can't stop at one victory," Stigman said. "There is so much more to accomplish."
The new vice president for university advancement will receive a salary of between $85,450 and $114,646, commensurate with education and experience. He or she reports directly to the president.
As executive director of the university and senior fundraiser, he or she provides support and advice for developing and shaping institutional advancement programs and policies.
Leslie Andres can be reached at: [email protected]
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