This link was just forwarded to me!

Last week, Joe Paul interviewed for a position as VP of Student Affairs at Texas A&M!!

http://www.thebatt.com/news/2004/03/25/News/Student.Affairs.Vp.Candidate.Visits.Texas.Am.Campus-641086.shtml

The article states:

The second of four candidates vying for the position of vice president for student affairs at Texas A&M was introduced to students, faculty and staff at an open forum at Rudder Exhibit Hall Wednesday.

Joseph Paul, currently the vice president for student affairs at the University of Southern Mississippi, said he wants to join the A&M staff because it has the best student affairs program in the nation.

Paul expressed his attraction toward A&M as he commented on the Aggie attitude at football games and addressed a series of questions regarding issues such as residence life, Bonfire and student activities.  

"In terms of my philosophy, my ideal form for an institution of higher learning is that it is a seamless learning community," Paul said. "Not this education or that education, but one holistic education. A lot of engagement with students marks my style."

To aid in the selection of a new vice president for student affairs, a nine-member search committee composed of faculty, students and alumni was appointed by A&M President Robert M. Gates.  

The terms for selecting the candidates, according to the division of student affairs, include having a doctoral degree (or extraordinary experience) in student affairs administration or other related field of study, understanding, appreciation for and commitment to providing consistent access to the students and engaging students in multiple forums.

Craig Rotter, coordinator of leadership development for the Department of Residence Life, said Paul is going to reach out and understand the University.

"We need a vice president for student affairs who understands Aggie traditions and what Aggie values are all about," Rotter said.

The position has been vacant since May 2003 following the retirement of J. Malon Southerland who held the position for nine years.

Robert Strawser, chair of the vice president for student affairs search advisory committee, said three candidates were selected to interview for the position in the spring of last year.  However, the committee did decision, said none of the candidates were fit for the position.
Consequently, the candidate search was renewed in the fall of last year, and the finalists were selected for interviews.

The finalists for the position are: Kenneth Reeves, executive director for business development at Nola computer services; Joseph Paul, vice president for student affairs at the University of Southern Mississippi,; Dean Brescianni, interim vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; and Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne, Corps commandant at A&M.

Matt Josefy, student body president and member of the search committee, said that the vice president for student affairs needs to be someone who has worked heavily with students in some capacity, who knows how to run an organization and has a love for A&M.

"The VP for student affairs is the most important position in terms of student advocacy and student involvement on this campus," Josefy said. "When student leaders come and go every year, the vice president for student affairs will still be here to maintain what A&M is known for, and that's student involvement."

The last two candidates to introduce themselves to students, faculty and staff are Prescianni, who will be here April 5-6, and Van Alstyne, April 7-8.

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Edited to add:

Hattiesburg American's report today:

Longtime University of Southern Mississippi administrator Joe Paul is one of four candidates interviewing for vice president for student affairs at Texas A&M University.

But despite a visit to the College Station campus on March 23 and 24, Paul maintained Tuesday that he is not looking for a new job and he did not seek out the position at Texas A&M.

snip...

Paul said he was contacted on multiple occasions by Texas A&M about the position before his visit, but said he has not been frequently approached about vacancies at other universities in the past.

The chairman of Texas A&M's student affairs search committee, Bob Strawser, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Paul expected all interviews with the job candidates to conclude in early April with a final announcement to be made later that month. He said he did not know the salary for the Texas A&M position.

"I went there to learn and to let them know what they might need to know about me," he said. "My job is at Southern Miss. I'm not seeking a job elsewhere and I think that my own work history affirms that."

more at:  http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040331/localnews/183192.html