Emporia, Kans. — The five candidates for the presidency of Emporia State University were revealed this morning.
Two of the five are from Illinois: Sharon Hahs of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and Joseph Rallo of Western Illinois University. The others are John Folkins of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Bernie Patterson of Oklahoma City University and Michael Lane of the University of Arkansas at Ft. Smith.
“These are outstanding candidates and we are so excited to bring them to campus,” said Janice DeBauge, a member of the search committee. “Each one of them has a very broad range of experience and each has experience that will be valuable to Emporia State University. We’re looking forward to them getting to know the campus and community better, and vice versa.”
DeBauge also praised John Hicks, the consultant who assisted the search.
“He has been extremely important in the committee being able to bring these fine candidates to campus,” DeBauge said.
The schedule of visits is:
• Sept. 5 and 6 — Sharon Hahs, provost director for special projects at Southern Illinois University since July 1. A chemistry professor, Hahs has served at the university since 1995, first as dean of the college of arts and sciences, then as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
She has also served at the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg and at Metropolitan State College in Denver.
• Sept. 7 and 8 — John Folkins, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bowling Green State University since 2000. Folkins’ academic background is in speech pathology and audiology. Before his present position, he was at the University of Iowa where he taught from 1977 to 1993 and then served as associate provost from 1993 to 2000.
• Sept. 11 and 12 — Joseph Rallo, the provost and academic vice president at Western Illinois University since 2003. Previously, Rallo was dean of the college of business and administration and the graduate school of administration at the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus for four years. He has also held administrative or teaching positions at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.; Michigan Technological University in Houghton; the U.S. Air Force Academy; and Rutgers University.
• Sept. 12 and 13 — Michael Lane, the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith since 2005. Prior to that, Lane had held a similar position at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. He has also been the business dean of Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne and the associate business dean at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.
• Sept. 14 and 15 — Bernie Patterson, the vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma City University since 2002 and the university’s provost since 2003. Before that, Patterson was dean of the college of arts and sciences at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville starting in 1994, and taught and held administrative positions at Valdosta State University in Georgia from 1977 until 1993.