Austin vice president sees urgency for student support

Dr. Stephanie Hawley, associate vice president of college access programs at Austin Community College, is seeking the position of vice chancellor for academic success because of projects in the district, such as Achieving the Dream and Completion by Design.

One of two finalists, she was introduced at a reception Thursday, which drew about 30 people at Killen Center.

“The whole district is involved in national initiatives, and I’m also interested in the fact that the colleges are coming together to provide standards — standardizing some things but still retaining their identities and their culture. And that’s not and easy thing to do, but it’s exciting work,” Hawley said.

The district has been searching for the vice chancellor for academic success since Dr. Robert Aguero, former vice chancellor of academic success, retired in December.

Mario Muniz, district director of public relations, said the district advertised the position Nov. 18 and officially closed the position July 16.

Jo-Carol Fabianke, associate vice chancellor for academic success, is serving as interim vice chancellor for academic success.

Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor of planning, performance and information systems, chaired the 12-member search committee.

He said six applicants were interviewed by the committee, and 61 applications were received.

Hawley has served as vice president and associate vice chancellor in the academic affairs division at City Colleges of Chicago, consultant and vice president of academic affairs at Morton College in Cicero, Ill., and founding director of Oklahoma City University's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

She received her doctorate from the community college leadership program at the University of Texas at Austin, a master's degree from the University of Houston and a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas.

Hawley said she was surprised at the fast pace at which the district is moving toward student success.

“The work that’s being done here, not only is it the right direction but the pace is — I think it demonstrates the urgency of helping students to be more successful at the Alamo Colleges,” she said.

Hawley said that she can relate to employees at the district and the colleges who feel and understand the urgency to provide strong support for students.

“Beyond my passion and my sense of urgency about supporting students, I have a lot of experience in academic affairs, and as a faculty member in districts like this and so I bring a lot of experience back — how to get people together in a collaborative way to move the agendas and initiatives forward,” she said.

There is not a scheduled deadline for when the position must be filled, Cleary said.

“As soon as possible is our deadline,” he said.

The committee will submit a recommendation to Chancellor Bruce Leslie.

Leslie will submit his recommendation to the Alamo Colleges board of trustees for approval.

Cleary said that a candidate forum was not scheduled because of tight schedules.

“We had to work off our schedules and other folks schedules and the candidates’ schedules. … Since school’s back in session, it’s really hard to get them around and then where do you have them speak with five colleges and district? I mean, do you have six presentations?” he said. “I would love to have every person be able to talk to this individual, but with 5,000 employees, that’s problematic.”