Columbia Union finds potential president

VP at Adventist school in Massachusetts offered top post at college

Jean Warden, the school’s vice president for student life who served on the presidential search committee that recommended Spence, said the decision came after a ‘‘long process” that began with more than 50 names.

‘‘He was the type of person we were looking for, and in terms of answering questions and maintaining a presentation, he was very much on point with that and obviously very prepared for what the position called for,” Warden said.

The college had been looking for a new president since the spring, when former president Randal Wisbey stepped down from his post after seven years to become president of La Sierra University, an Adventist school in California.

Interim president Gaspar Colon, a theology professor, has been presiding in the meantime.

Spence, who has a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, has served in higher education for more than 22 years, having served as dean at Anne Arundel Community College and also at the School of Health Professions at Baptist Health System School of Health Professions in San Antonio. His current position is at an Adventist school. Warden said that background makes him qualified to lead Columbia Union.

‘‘At a Christian institution, certainly we’re looking for someone with a air of spirituality, a person with educational experience that relates to academia, a person who had interpersonal experience to work with the faculty and students, to work with community organizations,” Warden said.

Spence and his wife, Rebecca, have two children, Melissa and Weymouth II.

Scott Steward, executive director of marketing and communications for Columbia Union, said the school offered the position to someone else several months ago, but that candidate declined and the process had to begin again.

Should he accept, Spence would come to Columbia Union while it copes with a $5 million debt. The college’s board of trustees drew some criticism in September for its decision to rescind an offer to sell its student radio station for upwards of $20 million. While some were happy to retain the station, others said the college could have taken care of its financial problems with the sale.

Warden said the college looked specifically for a candidate who would guide the institution through financial uncertainty.

‘‘That was one of the highest areas of criteria, that he’s a person who has a proven track record,” she said.

Warden said all candidates were made fully aware of the school’s debt.

‘‘The candidates were given a certain amount of information, printed information, our fact and figures books,” she said. ‘‘They were not in the dark. They were prepared with who we are.”