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News-Leader.com
May 9 2010
MSU presidential candidate lands endorsement of ex-MSU head
Ex-MSU president John Keiser lauds Boise State provost Andrews as
intuitive leader.
Didi Tang ¢ News-Leader ¢ May 9, 2010
On Monday, Missouri State University will see its first woman finalist
for president.
Sona Karentz Andrews, 56, provost and vice president for academic
affairs and professor of geosciences at Boise State University, has
been named the third of four finalists to succeed President Mike
Nietzel.
She will appear at an open forum at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Plaster
Student Union Theater.
Should she be appointed, Andrews would be the first woman to lead the
105-year-old institution.
On Saturday, she played down the difference.
"I hope I will be viewed based on my talent and my skills, not the
gender," she said.
Andrews, Boise State's first female provost, last year competed for
the presidency at University of Rhode Island, her home state, where
she "could be near my parents," she said.
The opportunity to become president at MSU came to her when she was
contacted by a search firm, Andrews said.
And she is interested, partly because of John Keiser, the former
university president who came to Springfield from Boise State and now
is retired in the mountains of Idaho.
"I am disposed to think well of Missouri State," Andrews said, noting
Missouri State and Boise State share many similarities.
Boise State has an enrollment of 19,000, compared to 20,000 at MSU.
"It's a university that's really on the move," she said of Missouri State.
And she has a favorable reference from Keiser, who told the
News-Leader Saturday that Andrews is well-liked and well-respected at
Boise State.
Andrews has the skills to lead MSU and take it to the next level in a
time of financial difficulties, Keiser said.
"She understands how to make it grow and make it better," he said.
"She understands the present budget problems and etc."
Pauline Nugent, a Missouri State professor on the presidential search
committee, described Andrews as "very competent, very capable and very
experienced on the national level."
Nugent said the committee is pleased to have a female candidate who
has made it to the final round.
Born in an Armenian family in Providence, R.I., Andrews grew up
speaking Armenian and spent her first college year in an Armenian
school in Beirut, Lebanon.
She returned to the U.S., where she completed her undergraduate
studies in geography and eventually earned a doctoral degree in the
field.
Andrews began her academic career in 1981 as an assistant professor of
geography at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, but would spend
about 16 years at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
In 1995, she became an assistant vice chancellor at UW-Milwaukee.
Andrews said she did not plan to become an administrator but was
encouraged when she worked on a campuswide committee.
"People saw some attributes in me to be in the leadership," she said.
"I can get things done. I work well with people."
At Boise State, Andrews said she supported faculty efforts to
establish a policy that allows faculty members starting families or
those with disabilities or chronic illness to seek extra time to earn
tenure.
She said she believes in shared governance but such a culture must be
cultivated intentionally.
The administration must involve faculty, staff and students at the
very early stage of decision-making, keep them engaged throughout the
process and encourage different opinions, Andrew said.
"Everything is transparent and open," she said.
Andrews said she supports domestic-partner benefits because "it is a
very important piece for recruiting for faculty and staff."
In 2007-2008, Boise State was recognized nationally for faculty career
flexibility as one of six national recipients for Alfred P. Sloan
Awards.
At Boise State, Andrews initiated a "Finish in Four" program that
helps students graduate in four years. Students meet with advisers to
map out a four-year graduation plan, and Boise State guarantees course
availability.
Athletic programs, Andrews said, have tangible benefits that help the
university connect with its alumni, but it is important to make sure
student athletes get the education they need, she said.
Andrews said she believes in diversity but a university needs to
create an inclusive environment.
"You can have diversity -- we have X percent of minorities and X
percent of women, but they are not included," Andrews said. "It's more
important to have that inclusion to foster diversity.
"Let's not look at the number but the environment," she said.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100509 /NEWS04/5090366/1007/NEWS01/MSU-presidential-candi date-lands-endorsement-of-ex-MSU-head
May 9 2010
MSU presidential candidate lands endorsement of ex-MSU head
Ex-MSU president John Keiser lauds Boise State provost Andrews as
intuitive leader.
Didi Tang ¢ News-Leader ¢ May 9, 2010
On Monday, Missouri State University will see its first woman finalist
for president.
Sona Karentz Andrews, 56, provost and vice president for academic
affairs and professor of geosciences at Boise State University, has
been named the third of four finalists to succeed President Mike
Nietzel.
She will appear at an open forum at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Plaster
Student Union Theater.
Should she be appointed, Andrews would be the first woman to lead the
105-year-old institution.
On Saturday, she played down the difference.
"I hope I will be viewed based on my talent and my skills, not the
gender," she said.
Andrews, Boise State's first female provost, last year competed for
the presidency at University of Rhode Island, her home state, where
she "could be near my parents," she said.
The opportunity to become president at MSU came to her when she was
contacted by a search firm, Andrews said.
And she is interested, partly because of John Keiser, the former
university president who came to Springfield from Boise State and now
is retired in the mountains of Idaho.
"I am disposed to think well of Missouri State," Andrews said, noting
Missouri State and Boise State share many similarities.
Boise State has an enrollment of 19,000, compared to 20,000 at MSU.
"It's a university that's really on the move," she said of Missouri State.
And she has a favorable reference from Keiser, who told the
News-Leader Saturday that Andrews is well-liked and well-respected at
Boise State.
Andrews has the skills to lead MSU and take it to the next level in a
time of financial difficulties, Keiser said.
"She understands how to make it grow and make it better," he said.
"She understands the present budget problems and etc."
Pauline Nugent, a Missouri State professor on the presidential search
committee, described Andrews as "very competent, very capable and very
experienced on the national level."
Nugent said the committee is pleased to have a female candidate who
has made it to the final round.
Born in an Armenian family in Providence, R.I., Andrews grew up
speaking Armenian and spent her first college year in an Armenian
school in Beirut, Lebanon.
She returned to the U.S., where she completed her undergraduate
studies in geography and eventually earned a doctoral degree in the
field.
Andrews began her academic career in 1981 as an assistant professor of
geography at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, but would spend
about 16 years at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
In 1995, she became an assistant vice chancellor at UW-Milwaukee.
Andrews said she did not plan to become an administrator but was
encouraged when she worked on a campuswide committee.
"People saw some attributes in me to be in the leadership," she said.
"I can get things done. I work well with people."
At Boise State, Andrews said she supported faculty efforts to
establish a policy that allows faculty members starting families or
those with disabilities or chronic illness to seek extra time to earn
tenure.
She said she believes in shared governance but such a culture must be
cultivated intentionally.
The administration must involve faculty, staff and students at the
very early stage of decision-making, keep them engaged throughout the
process and encourage different opinions, Andrew said.
"Everything is transparent and open," she said.
Andrews said she supports domestic-partner benefits because "it is a
very important piece for recruiting for faculty and staff."
In 2007-2008, Boise State was recognized nationally for faculty career
flexibility as one of six national recipients for Alfred P. Sloan
Awards.
At Boise State, Andrews initiated a "Finish in Four" program that
helps students graduate in four years. Students meet with advisers to
map out a four-year graduation plan, and Boise State guarantees course
availability.
Athletic programs, Andrews said, have tangible benefits that help the
university connect with its alumni, but it is important to make sure
student athletes get the education they need, she said.
Andrews said she believes in diversity but a university needs to
create an inclusive environment.
"You can have diversity -- we have X percent of minorities and X
percent of women, but they are not included," Andrews said. "It's more
important to have that inclusion to foster diversity.
"Let's not look at the number but the environment," she said.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100509 /NEWS04/5090366/1007/NEWS01/MSU-presidential-candi date-lands-endorsement-of-ex-MSU-head