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New president sets sights on college's future

By Pam Steele
psteele3@mscd.edu

Metro's new president has launched provost search, convened his first cabinet meeting, met with community groups and leaders and has more activities on the way.

Stephen Jordan arrived on campus July 1 for his first day as Metro's president. Fifteen years ago, he left Auraria as a student with a Ph.D. in public administration policy analysis from UCD.

"He really just hit the ground running, meeting with key college groups...getting to know the different cultures and the climate of the campus," said Metro spokesperson Cathy Lucas.

Jordan will host a welcoming ceremony from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sept. 7 at Ninth Street Park where students, faculty and staff will have the chance to get to know their president a little better. He will also discuss his vision for this school year.

He will speak Aug. 27 at the Brian Wilson concert to benefit Metro's Athletics Department.

On July 18, Jordan sent out a campus-wide e-mail naming the committee members who will aid in the search for Metro's new provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Final candidates in the provost search will be selected by the committee. On-campus interviews are scheduled to begin Oct. 31. Jordan set a deadline for the final decision in November and hopes to have the candidate in place by January.

Jordan held his first cabinet meeting on July 18. Following the example he set as president of Eastern Washington University, Jordan included not only senior Metro staff, but also Hal Nees, president of the faculty senate, and Dennis Bergquist, interim president of the Student Government Assembly. The cabinet serves as the policy-making body at Metro, advises the president and makes recommendations to Metro's Board of Trustees.

Jordan has taken time to meet with community groups and state legislators. He has met with Hank Brown, a former senator, who is the newly appointed president of the University of Colorado system, and with Michael Bennett, the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools.

After his welcoming ceremony, Jordan will attend the first full meeting of the board of trustees since he took office.

He is also slated to address Metro's Alumni Foundation at its annual meeting on Sept. 14 and at the opening reception for the alumni art show 7-9 p.m. Sept. 16 at Metro's Center for the Visual Arts, 1734 Wazee St. in Denver.

Jordan is scheduled to make an appearance on Sept. 19 at the Auraria Bookstore's grand re-opening ceremony.