Acorn

From left to right: President-elect Robert Weisbuch, Board of Trustees Chair Barbara Caspersen and President Tom Kean. [Click to enlarge]

Drew welcomed its new big man on campus yesterday. Hundreds of trustees, faculty, staff and students lined up in the Mead Hall foyer to shake his hand. For two hours, that man remained bubbly and animated as he greeted each person individually. That man -- Robert Weisbuch -- was named Drew University president Monday.

The Presidential Search Committee unanimously recommended Weisbuch to the Board of Trustees April 12 after a four-hour-long meeting. The Board of Trustees' vote later that night for Weisbuch was "totally enthusiastic," Chair of the Board of Trustees Barbara Caspersen said.

President Tom Kean and Caspersen hosted the welcome reception for Weisbuch.

"It's an exciting day for us -- a bittersweet day," Caspersen said. Yesterday, the Black Box theater was dedicated to Kean -- and it was his 70th birthday.

But, the spotlight shone on Weisbuch. After two hours of greeting his new community, Weisbuch sat down to talk with The Acorn.

"It's hard to believe it has happened," Weisbuch said. "I can't imagine wanting to do anything else."

Weisbuch comes to Drew after an eight-year career as the President of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, and before that, a 25-year career at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

"My main motive to apply for president was my desire to be back with students, faculty and staff," Weisbuch said. "After I came to campus, I told the [Presidential Search Committee] that I didn't want to leave."

Weisbuch felt drawn to Drew. "It is a kaleidoscope of extraordinarily smart and nice people," Weisbuch said. "Those qualities don't always go together, but Drew has them," he said.

Since it was announced that Weisbuch would be Drew's president, friends have called to congratulate him, he said. "They tell me what a beautiful campus Drew is -- but that's not what it's about. The atmosphere is distinctly positive and unique," Weisbuch said.

His initial plans as president include getting to know the real Drew -- the students, faculty, staff and trustees. "I ultimately want to emphasize that making decisions is a 'we-business' -- a community-business. I'm not going to get anywhere by myself," Weisbuch said. "In the fall, there needs to be a call to engagement -- what do we need to engage always and what do we need to engage now?"

Weisbuch feels he won't be making any big changes at first. "I think a new president can make too many blunders if they come in with too many ideas of their own," Weisbuch said. "It's like being a dentist -- you polish what is good and get into the problems later."

His experience as president of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation gave him effective problem-solving skills. "I've spent eight years taking large concepts and forming them into something real," Weisbuch said.

The search for president began after Labor Day, Caspersen said. "It was important for us to respond quickly," she said.

During spring break, the Search Committee narrowed the candidates down to three finalists -- Weisbuch, Barbara Shailor and Christopher Dahl. Each finalist spent two days at Drew to become acquainted with faculty, staff and students.

"Each of the three finalists had slightly different backgrounds and strengths," Caspersen said. "In the end, we decided Weisbuch's skills and experience will help us out more right now. He appeared to have the edge."

At yesterday's reception, Weisbuch received a warm welcome from the Drew community.

Kathleen Madden, associate professor of Mathematics, was excited to meet Weisbuch, she said. "He was nice and personable," Madden said. "I had to wait on a long line, but he took the time to talk to everyone."

Director of Health Services Kathy Nottage felt it was important for her staff to reach out to the new president early. Several staff members accompanied her, "It's important to be welcoming," she said. "He's charming."

Senior Scott Lewis, junior Alex Barron and sophomore Max Kleinman wanted to gauge Weisbuch's interest in a cappella on behalf of 36 Madison Avenue. "We wanted to see how supportive he'll be -- Weisbuch seems just as supportive [as Kean]," Lewis said. "He was engaged, personable and was very concerned about each person who came."

Assistant Vice President for University Relations Tom Harris e-mailed the campus Monday at 10 a.m. An hour later, Weisbuch himself sent an e-mail. "I invite each of you -- students, faculty, staff, trustees and alumni -- to join me in an adventure for Drew to launch a more generous notion of the academic disciplines and for our three schools to contribute powerfully toward a renaissance in our own time," he wrote.

Weisbuch is in it for the long haul. "This is the stone to which I have stepped. I feel like I'm making a long-term commitment," he said. "I'm so excited -- I've been getting up at 4:30 a.m. and I'm still going."

While Weisbuch was greeting the community in the foyer, President Kean kept his distance, chatting with Caspersen in the Founder's room. After the line had dwindled to its end, Weisbuch and Kean greeted each other with beaming smiles. Weisbuch presented Kean with an envelope -- "something special," he told Kean. While posing for the press, each president looked at each other with excitement.

"I think he's going to be great," Kean said. "He's going to set his own priotities."

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