Dear Santa Clara University Community,

I write to update you on the searches for our inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Vice President for Mission and Ministry. Since I announced these positions earlier this year (VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and VP for Mission and Ministry), both committees have worked hard to finalize position descriptions and recruit candidates. In the midst of this initial work, the coronavirus pandemic disrupted our University life. Given these impacts, and after consulting with the committees, I have decided to suspend the searches until we can return to a more favorable recruiting environment. 

Admittedly, it’s difficult for me to do so, as these new positions were created after extensive input that underscored the need for more coordinated approaches to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion and sharing our Jesuit, Catholic mission in more dynamic ways. Yet, as the search committees noted, selecting candidates for these important positions requires active engagement by our students, faculty, and staff. The shelter-in-place order and the move to virtual learning prevents full participation in the interview process. Such participation is vital  because both positions are new. Though these positions are mission critical, delaying the searches also helps us address the current fiscal reality that the recently announced, temporary hiring freeze is addressing.

The committees also expressed concern that the current public health crisis may limit our applicant pool, particularly for applicants outside of this region. While we have attracted impressive candidates, both pools can be further enriched with more time. Moreover, with distancing and remote learning upon us and fewer people around campus, we would face significant hurdles to successfully onboarding a new member of our community, including building collaborative relationships from the start.

We remain in contact with the candidates who have expressed interest in the positions. We hope to resume the searches in the fall, when our community can be more actively engaged in the selection processes. Further candidate nominations and inquiries for both positions can be directed to Anne McMahon in my office.

While I am suspending these searches, my commitment to hiring for both positions remains firm. Fortunately, Professor Margaret Russell has graciously agreed to extend her service as Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion into the next academic year. And the Ignatian Center, Campus Ministry, and Mission Church will continue to collaborate to promote our distinctive mission under their current organization, as we await a vice president to more formally bring them together as one unit. 

As you know, we are also conducting a search for the Vice President for Enrollment Management. John Ottoboni will send an update shortly on that search. 

I close by thanking the search committees for their hard work and wise counsel. I look forward to the time when we can robustly return to the searches. Until then and after, I remind you that everyone in the community can contribute to creating the community we want, embodying and reflecting our Jesuit mission and embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. With the delayed searches, it's more important than ever that all of us promote these ideals in concrete ways each day. 

Know of my gratitude for all you are doing to serve the university and care for each other during these challenging times. Because of you, I know that all will be well.

Sincerely,

Kevin F. O'Brien, S.J.
President