Some 20-somethings would run away from a chance to be an equal member in a committee full of adults, but not senior psychology major Katey Ebaugh. When faced with an opportunity to serve on Bluffton’s presidential search committee as the student representative, she was filled with honor, not fear.
Photo by Claire Clay
One of 13 committee members tasked with presenting a presidential candidate to the board of trustees, Ebaugh had the responsibility of bringing the voices of many different types of students on Bluffton’s campus.
“I was honored to have been chosen for that position,” said Ebaugh. “I was Student Senate president last year, so I was already used to looking at the perspective of many different students, and I have a passion for Bluffton and want to see that continue in the future.”
As the student representative, Ebaugh had the chance to read through all of the applications, select the top eight candidates and meet with all eight for an interview in Columbus–one of whom was Dr. Jane Wood, who was announced Feb. 23 as Bluffton’s tenth president.
“We had positive interaction just from who she is and her experiences and felt it was right, as a committee, to bring her to campus,” said Ebaugh.
While on campus, Wood toured campus, had lunch with selected students and met with faculty and staff, among other things. In addition, Ebaugh said she made it a point to have personal, meaningful conversations with Dr. Wood, who in turn was “really intentional” about getting to know the students.
“I felt a lot of peace,” said Ebaugh. “I began to really visualize the unity that I hope to see on campus, simply because of her leadership. It just felt right.”
Being intentional with her student interactions, asking lots of questions to those she spoke with, Wood’s desire to be involved with students and her apparent passion for the cross-cultural experience were just a few of the benefits that Ebaugh pointed out in Wood.
On the flip side, Ebaugh says that Wood’s lack of Mennonite and Anabaptist background could prove to be a challenge for the future president.
Wood will be the first non-Mennonite affiliated president in Bluffton’s history. Although not Mennonite, Wood is active in the Methodist church.
“The more I know [Wood], the more I like her,” said Ebaugh, who is among the Mennonite students on campus. “I think [she] is someone who it will take time for to understand Bluffton. She has a little bit more of a bridge to cross than someone who has maybe been in Mennonite higher education for a while.”
“I fully believe she will embody that very strongly, but I think she will need mentorship to do so,” Ebaugh said.
Ebaugh is excited to see what Bluffton will look like when Wood takes office, even though she won’t be here herself.
“Her time with the students was full of excitement and empathy,” Ebaugh said. “As a senior here, I can rest assured that she will consistently listen to the needs and desires of students and that the university I will leave will be in good leadership.”
Wood will be formally introduced on campus in March.
