by Jennifer Cuevas
Staff Writer
After a period of more than 1.5 years, the search continues to fill the position for vice president of administration and finance.
An open session interview was conducted Saturday, Jan. 21 in the Howell Board Room, where members of the search committee discussed the interviewee’s experience working in positions related to that of the position at the University of La Verne.
The candidate for this position, Roger J. Flecher, stayed for the course of the day. During that time, he had an opportunity to meet the search committee — consisting of deans, vice presidents and two faculty representatives — and the staff members from the Finance Department. Anyone interested was able to attend.
Flecher was not hired for this position because “they [the search committee] just felt that we didn’t have the right fit for what we are looking for,” said President Stephen Morgan.
According to Dr. Morgan, the committee is looking for someone “who’s had increasingly responsible positions in administration and finance areas. Someone who can really oversee the day to day administration of the University.”
Before the search for vice president began, Dr. Morgan, Steve Grey, chief financial officer, members of the Board of Trustees, and administration had tried to restructure the department so that it would not need a vice president for administration and finance. However, since Grey took on the responsibilities of financial chief in fall 1994, he and Dr. Morgan realized the tasks needing to be completed are too difficult and overwhelming for one person to handle.
This position should not be confused with the Office of Financial Aid. The duties for the vice president of finance and administration include aspects such as accounting, budgeting, and telecommunications for the main campus, as well as ULV extensions.
The search to fill the position had originally began in July of 1993, when Skip Mainiero, who was vice president at the time, died. After Mainiero, an interim was found by the name of Richard Voake, a member of the Board of Trustees. Voake stayed for a period of six months. Following Voake was Bruce Barron who was hired as vice president a few months after Voake had left this position. Barron stayed six months as well.
“He [Barron] just wasn’t happy at La Verne…he had moved from New York and it didn’t work out for him,” said Dr. Morgan.
In spring of 1997, three candidates were also interviewed for the vice president position.
According to Dr. Morgan, the search has been ongoing, and will continue until someone is found. Until that time, however, Grey will remain in charge of the financial and administrative work in that department.
