The final three candidates for the position of Portland State University director of facilities will be on campus for interviews this week, with a final decision likely in early November.
The first of four finalist candidates visited last week. The other three will appear today, Wednesday and Thursday to meet with faculty, staff and students.
“We probably won’t have a final decision for a week or two,” said Martin Pittioni, executive assistant to Jay Kenton, vice president for finance and administration. It is Kenton who will make the final decision after a report from the search committee.
Joseph Metro of Michigan will be today’s candidate. He will be in Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 329. Doug Sanford of Arizona will appear Wednesday in Room 298 of SMSU. Ramesh Vakamudi of Georgia will be in SMSU Room 238 on Thursday. All forums will take place at 2:30 p.m.
People who attend the interviews will receive feedback forms.
“Your participation will help inform the committee charged with formulating candidate recommendations to the vice president for finance and administration.” Pittioni said.
The first candidate, who visited the campus Monday, Oct. 14, was Wayne Zdrojkowski of Michigan. He is currently with a private company, Johnson Controls, Inc. From 1989 to 1994, he served as director of operations and utilities for Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich. From 1983 to 1989, he was director of the physical plant at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.
Metro is currently a consultant. From 1998 to 2001, he filled the post of vice president of facilities at Cranbrook Educational Center in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. He has been vice president of operations at Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., and director of the statistical office for collected facilities at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
Sanford has been director of facilities management at Arizona State University – East Mesa since March 2000. He was previously director of facilities at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., and served various positions with the University of San Diego in California.
Vakamudi is currently director of facilities planning at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga. Prior to that, he was director of campus planning at the University of Akron in Ohio from 1997 to 2001 and had been at Akron since 1985.
The previous director at PSU, Brian Chase, left for a position at Colorado State University in May. Assistant director Robyn Pierce has been acting as interim director. Since Chase left, a search committee has winnowed a succession of candidates under the leadership of Duncan Carter, professor of English and associate dean.
After the interviews, the committee will make a decision on a candidate that Carter will relay to Kenton, who will make the final appointment.
The facilities department is one of the most crucial departments in the administration at Portland State. The successful candidate will be responsible for directing all services, programs and projects on the 41-acre campus with 46 buildings totaling 4.2 million square feet.
The facilities staff, currently at about 60 people, is responsible for the planning, design and construction of new facilities and the renovation and renewal of existing facilities.
The average capital construction budget for a biennium is $84 million.
Facilities is responsible for operations, maintenance, grounds, receiving, warehouse and mail services. It also manages repair of capital properties.
The new director will play a key role in the future character of Portland State. This will include collaborating with other offices and influences on and off campus, revision of the university’s master plan, and expansion of the University District boundaries in downtown Portland.
Anyone with questions about this week’s interviews may call Martin Pittioni at 503-725-5878.