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Williams College Adds Two Posts, Eliminates OneBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Friday, August 26, 2005
Williamstown – Williams College President Morton O. Schapiro announced several administrative-level job changes in an Aug. 24 letter sent to members of the college community. The changes are bringing two new posts to the college’s senior-level administrative tier while also eliminating the title last held by former college Vice-president of Administration and Treasurer Helen Ouellette.
The changes came as a result of a review of the college’s “organizational structure†that followed the resignation of Ouellette earlier this year.
"When reporting to you the interim arrangements after Helen Ouellette’s leaving, I pointed out that such an opening at a senior level afforded an opportunity to think about our organizational structure and whether it was as efficient and effective as it could be,†Schapiro wrote.
The “vice-president of administration and treasurer†will become “vice-president of operations,†according to Schapiro’s letter. Responsibilities associated with the new position include overseeing conferences, dining services, facilities, human resources, and additional non-financial business functions.
College Provost Catharine Hill was named the college Chief Financial Officer, and the college Office of the Controller will report to Hill under the restructuring, Schapiro said in the letter. Previously, the Provost’s Office handled budgetary matters and the post held by Ouellette handled financial duties including financial management and accounting; those responsibilities are being consolidated and will now fall under Hill’s purview.
Other responsibilities handled by Ouellette are being divided among several existing positions, the letter stated.
College officials are launching a national search for qualified applicants for the Vice-president of Operations post as well as applicants for a newly-created Vice-president of Investments post.
Search committees for the two jobs are being formed. The chairwoman for the vice-president of investments committee is Hill, while Thomas Kohut is heading the committee seeking a vice-president of operations.
Jo Proctor of the college’s Office of Public Affairs said that the changes reflect a shift in the administrative structure of the college.
“It’s a reorganization of responsibilities,†Proctor said during an Aug. 25 interview. “This is a management decision, not a financial one.â€
Ouellette’s resignation was announced on May 12. Ouellette had served as Williams College Vice-president of Administration and Treasurer since 1998, and said at the time of her resignation that she had no definite plans for the future but was considering several options.
Susan Bush may be contacted via e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net or at 802-823-9367.
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