One of the things I learned in my graduate studies was a maxim often used by Alfred Adler: You cannot control what happens to you, but you are in control of how you will react. This maxim came to mind as I looked at my grandmother’s dining room table in pieces in the hands of the movers. The good news is that a competent furniture repair person will be able to put it all back together and all will, eventually, be fine. But the point remains that we all have to respond to what happens to us, and we always have a choice when it comes to that response. Now I just have to keep reminding myself of that as I stand in the middle of a living room filled with boxes!

At the same time, we have a few boxes to unpack here at UHV, and I will need your help with them. The first one is the selection of new provost to replace David Cockrum, who has capably been serving as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at UHV. We are moving forward to assemble a screening committee. The deans have notified me of their choices. The UHV Faculty Senate will be meeting this week to make its recommendations, and the Staff Council and Student Government Association will be doing so soon. The first job of the committee will be to review the current job description and the last job announcement used to bring both up to date and make a recommendation to the UHV Executive Committee so we can have the job posted in early January.

So, this is where you come in. What are your thoughts about what skills, abilities and attributes we should be seeking in a new academic leader? Regardless of whether you are faculty or staff, or spend your time on the main campus in Victoria or at UHV Katy, I know you have views, and I would like to hear them. Please take a moment now or in the next few weeks to share your thoughts. You can leave a comment here, or send it to me directly at glennrk@uhv.edu. Thank you in advance to your willingness to help. I will keep you posted as we move forward.  Have a great week.