This summer, FAU announced it would hire a new administrator to oversee the campus newspaper, TV station and radio station. This week, a search committee settled on five candidates for the job.
“I believe this position will be an excellent advocate and resource to the students of FAU,” says Heather Bishara, the Jupiter campus assistant director of student life and recreation, and the chairwoman of the 10-member search committee that is interviewing the candidates. “They will assist in taking student media to the next level.”
The person who will take it to the next level will be Tracy Fantaccione, Susan Alyn, David Harris, Brook Crossman or Jennifer Shapiro. Candidates were narrowed down from 18 applications, while committee members felt two really stood out: Alyn and Shapiro.
Here are some facts from their applications and resumes:
? Susan Alyn got her Master of Arts from the College of Education at the University of South Florida in 1997; she has experience in creating online content for educational Web sites, producing TV commercials and in editing radio commercials. Also, in 2000, Alyn was voted “favorite professor” by UCF sorority students.
? Jennifer Shapiro, a Former UP staffer, currently works as the adviser for Broward Community College’s student newspaper, The Observer, as well as writing freelance for the Palm Beach and Broward Community News sections in the Sun-Sentinel. She graduated FAU in 2000 with a bachelor’s in communication, and received her master’s in journalism and mass communication, specializing in student media advising from Florida International University in 2004. Shapiro was named adviser of the year at BCC in 2005 and 2006.
? Brooke Crossman is currently coordinator of Honors and Advising Services at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, with a history of advising since 2000. She has a dual bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts Lowell in sociology and criminal justice and a master’s in higher education administration from Suffolk University. Crossman describes herself in the “Summary of Qualifications” section of her resume as “a clear, straightforward communicator.”
? David M. Harris has worked for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Miami Herald and media giant Clear Cannel Radio. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in communications. Currently, Harris works as a marketing manager at Sponsor Access out of Fort Lauderdale.
? Tracy Fantaccione graduated from the USF with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, and earned a master’s in political science from FAU. Fantaccione has worked as the managing editor at the Forum Publishing Group since 2002 and has 10 years experience as senior business writer at the Sun-Sentinel.
Phone interviews are scheduled for Monday as the student and faculty search committee begins the process of narrowing their recommendations to Vice President of Student Affairs Charles Brown and Interim Associate Dean of Student Terry Mena.
For more information about the new administrator positions, check out the print edition of the University Press and watch for continuing coverage of the hiring process on the Web at upressonline.com
