Dr. Paul Richard Brown is One of the Four Potential Presidential Candidates
Dr. Paul Richard Brown, Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania presented himself in Wilson Auditorium as a potential presidential candidate on Feb. 1 at 5 pm.
Eager to relax the nervous tension in the room, Brown asked the students to introduce themselves by providing their major and year in college. In addressing each student, Brown found ways to make the conversation more personal by relating tidbits of his own life with what students told of themselves.
He reassured students that it was all right to be undecided of what they wanted to major in. He explained that he found himself ‘major-less’ for too long in college. “I got in trouble with the Dean of Students,” Brown said.
Brown graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, which he recalled several times during the visit. He also received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
The first question that Brown was asked was what he would have to offer to the University. “I went to the next level of depth to try to understand Monmouth,” Brown said. “It’s no different from taking your first job. That’s where I’m at. The primary job of a president is fundraising; that’s basically what you’re doing. Fundraising should be done in a public setting and there are specific decisions that must be made, you have to know what’s possible, and you would have to show your love for Monmouth.”
When asked about his intentions of staying visible to students, Brown admitted that at his current position at Lehigh University, he does not interact much with students. However, as a president, he believes that it becomes an obligation. “A president is like a father figure. Your area, presence and [yourself] can be visible through things that you enjoy, such as sports. I’m an opera buff, so I’d be at Pollak Theater to see them in HD,” Brown said. “As a president, you have to make many decisions and you have to appoint people such as deans and provosts, you have to make appointments, and arrange fundraisers for donors. When I worked at New York University, I was very visible to students. I miss that.”
Brown then asked students how visible they believed President Paul G. Gaffney II to be. Students claimed that he is often in the Rebecca Stafford Student Center for lunch, he attends sports events and he keeps close contact with the Student Government Association (SGA).
Some members of SGA questioned Brown on how he intended to keep up a relationship with SGA. “I would try to meet with the group on a regular basis,” Brown said. He also said that he would try to help and to attend social events that SGA plans, as these events bring people such as deans and other leaders on campus.
“Mary Anne Nagy and I talked about fundraisers,” Brown said. “We also discussed that an issue among institutions is turnover. Leadership among students helps with continuity. Many of you here now do very well, but then you graduate.” Brown wants to make sure that all students have strong leadership skills throughout every year.
A question Brown found particularly probing was when he was asked why he had chosen the University. “I had discussed and debated this with my wife,” Brown said. “And we decided that I could stay where I was at, which is fantastic, but one thing is the size of Lehigh. I’m running a college but I am also involved with the senior levels. I had experience and wanted to try to sit at the top of the table. Business school deans are coming and going and I don’t want to go to business school again. I thought of the provost post, but the president is more interesting to me.”
Brown observed that there are many parallels between the University and Lehigh. “Lehigh is further along than Monmouth. I want to take my experience from Lehigh and bring it to Monmouth,” Brown said.
Another student asked what Brown thought of taking ideas from students for changes. Brown insisted that a president should get to know the student body today, or as soon as possible, by setting up target conversations. “A huge advantage is that we are all in this together,” Brown said. “We have a commitment to Monmouth by being here. Our leaders are our students and what they’re thinking is important and we should engage with them.”
Brown believes that the top priority at the University is that several of the facilities should be renovated, specifically Edison Hall. He also claims that the University has not had enough international and global exposure.
“Life has to be seen with people not like yourself,” Brown said. “It provides a global mindset and helps students to be more worldly and mindful.”
In reference to another presidential candidate, a student brought up the fact that he had said he personally checks his own email and inquired as to how Brown felt about that. “I only have one email and I am an email junkie,” Brown said. “It’s my central access point. So test me.”
A graduate student who had been involved with the search committee asked Brown of how he defined student achievement. “The definition of student achievement is within six months of graduation,” Brown said. “Students should be able to do what they have to do whether it’s graduate school or employment six months after they have graduated.”
To close the interview, a student asked what Brown’s stance on Greek life was. “Forty percent of students at Lehigh are involved in Greek Life,” Brown said. “I am completely involved. The houses are campus owned and it’s an incredibly important and critical part of campus. It’s a way to give to local communities and another way to get students engaged.”
Earlier in the evening, Brown praised the University and established his goal if he were to become the next president.
“You should be incredibly proud of your institution,” Brown said. “Great things are going for it and we can take it to the next level. You have fantastic facilities and an enticing location. Monmouth has all in place but it can be better.”
PHOTO COURTESY of lehigh.edu
