Seth Johnson
Santa Fe College hosted two finalists for its provost opening on campus over the past week.
Dr. Alice Murillo visited on Jan. 19, and Dr. J. Nathaniel “Nate” Southerland visited on Jan. 25. Both candidates spoke at different forums for students and faculty as the college is expected to pick its new provost in the coming month.
The revised search comes after changing parameters following the selection of three finalists last spring.
Murillo earned her master’s in mathematics from UF and, at the collegewide forum, she said she watched for a job opening at the time. Since then, she’s kept note of Santa Fe College through publications and conferences.
“I’ve watched Santa Fe over the years and different opportunities for employment, but I chose at the time not to pursue it,” Murillo said. This time, I did pursue it.”
Murillo said the curriculum at Santa Fe is nearly identical to what she has overseen in the past, and she said the college should continue to intentionally build out its campus structure.
Southerland grew up in St. Augustine and recently returned to the area following a 26-year stint out West. He worked at Coconino Community College in Arizona and Salt Lake Community College.
“Focusing on what makes Santa Fe College distinctive, reinforcing the recruitment pipeline by working extensively with K-12 partners and community agencies, reducing barriers to completion, and effectively utilizing high impact teaching and learning strategies are all part of meeting Santa Fe’s enrollment and retention goals,” Southerland said in his letter of intent.
He also highlighted his experience of creating processes to improve higher education.
“I have found that many of our frustrations as higher education professionals arise from broken or ineffective processes and practices, and I have either been involved in or led many process improvement teams over the years,” Southerland said.