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October 21, 2005 > News > Wiess begins master search

Wiess begins master search

By Stephanie Jennings | Thresher staff

Wiess College has formed a master search committee to fill the position that will open in June when Masters Katharine Donato and Dan Kalb conclude their five-year term.

The committee — which consists of 12 Wiess students, five faculty and staff members and one community associate — plans to select its top two candidates in late November and submit names to President David Leebron during the last week of classes, Search Committee Chair Alex Triantaphyllis said.

Master search committees submit two names and their recommendations about the candidates to Leebron, who makes the final decision.

Dean of Undergraduates Robin Forman requested a faculty associate be on the search committee, Wiess President Jack Hardcastle said.

“It was something we were planning to do anyway,” Hardcastle, a senior, said. “It was our desire that an alumnus and our RAs be a part of the decision process, too.”

Four candidates attended a reception at the Wiess President’s House Oct. 3, Triantaphyllis, a senior, said. The committee is currently in the process of interviewing candidates, he said.

“We hope to have five or six interested candidates,” Triantaphyllis said.

Hardcastle said convening the search committee this semester will allow the new masters to have time to prepare for their new job.

“We want [Leebron] to have as much time as possible and still have the whole process finished by the end of the fall semester,” Hardcastle said. “[This allows] the newly chosen masters to make arrangements to move and to work with their department to portion off their teaching load.”

Triantaphyllis said the committee hopes to find masters who are able to connect with a variety of people.

“What we’re looking for in the new master is hard to pinpoint — it’s different for each candidate,” Triantaphyllis said. “Overall, what we’re looking for is approachability, availability, ability to deal with parents and an ability to deal with a diverse group of students — from those who are heavily involved to those who are deep [off-campus].”

Sarah Wulf, a sophomore who is on the committee, said the committee will focus on candidates who will enjoy living at Wiess in particular.

“[We’re looking] for people with a passion for students — that’s really necessary in this job since you’re living with students — a sense of humor and a real interest in Wiess and its traditions,” Wulf said.

Donato, a sociology professor, said she and Kalb plan to stay involved with Wiess after they leave the mastership.

“I’ll miss all of the events and just the everyday interaction with Rice undergraduates who are just really amazing people,” she said.

Committee members said they will miss the meals Kalb cooked for students. Hardcastle said Donato and Kalb made students feel like part of their family, which includes two children — Marlo, 8, and Stella, 11.

“Between the two of them, they never miss a theater performance, Powderpuff game or study break,” Hardcastle said.

Triantaphyllis said Donato and Kalb helped acquaint him with the college system.

“As a [mid-year] transfer, I didn’t get this whole idea of the college system, [and] I didn’t experience O-Week either,” Triantaphyllis said. “I went over to the masters’ house for a meeting and it hit me that ‘Hey, this is an extra home.’ They helped me to understand the whole college by being so welcoming and inviting.”

Donato said she and Kalb would consider becoming masters again at any college.

“My husband, Dan, and I feel that this has been great fun and an amazing experience with so many teaching moments,” Donato said. “We would love to do this again. I think so few faculty really understand how wonderful the mastership is. It has its challenges, but … is an overwhelmingly positive experience.”

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