Search Advocates

The Search Advocates's role is to serve on the search committee as a collaborator and resource (as opposed to being a content expert for that department). The Search Advocate MISSION is to promote inclusive and equitable processes in faculty search and selection AND to facilitate consistency and transparency in best practices across our campus.

SAs are either TU tenured faculty, permanent status librarians, clinical faculty (associate level or higher), who are trained as search and selection process advisors. Their preparation includes a 16-hour Seminar and on-going education addressing current research and best practices in the ever-changing legal landscape in hiring, inclusive employment principles, and practical strategies for each stage of the search process. 

The Office of the Provost has committed to ensuring that  Search Advocates are assigned to support the majority of tenured, tenure track faculty and permanent librarian search committees.

Role and Responsibilities

Per the TU Tenured, Tenure-Track, Faculty and Permanent Status Librarian Hiring Procedures:

• The role of the SA is to serve on the search committee as a resource to promote inclusive and equitable screening and evaluation of applicants.
• The SA shall ensure that all voices are heard during the search process, and if necessary, address discriminatory behavior within the search process with support of the committee chair, department chairperson, dean, Assistant Provost for Diversity & Inclusion, and Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity.
• The SA is expected to participate in the same aspects of the search as other members of the search committee throughout the process.

List of Active Search Advocates 

As of summer 2024, 78 faculty and librarians have been trained across campus. The list of active Search Advocates are those who current training (within 2 years). 

College	Search Advocate
CBE	Yong-Yeon (Justin) Ji, Associate Professor, Department of Management  Yingying Shao, Professor, Department of Finance
CHP	Saradha Anathakrishnan, Associate Professor, Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology Jacob Bustad, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology Diana Emanuel, Professor, Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology Keunsu Han, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology Nancy Hannafin, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Nursing Kendra Heatwole Shank, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy & Occupational Science Briana Snyder, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing Wendy Whitner, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Health Science Jenna Yeager, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
CLA	Emily Bailey, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies Emily Parker, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies Sandra Llera, Professor, Department of Psychology Sara Oliver, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science Diego Del Pozo, Associate Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures & Culture Akim Reinhardt, Department of History Bethany Willis Hepp, Associate Professor, Department of Family Science
COE	Janese Daniels, Professor, Department of Early Childhood Education Omari Jackson, Associate Professor, Department of Instructional Leadership & Professional Development Morna McDermott-McNulty, Department of Elementary Education Stephen Schroth, Professor, Department of Early Childhood Education
COFAC	Ruben Del Valle, Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre Arts Marc May, Associate Professor, Department of Theatre Arts Desiree Rowe, Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies
FCSM	Min Deng, Professor, Department of Mathematics Vincent Guingona, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics Melike Kara, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics Kathryn McDougal, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Sonali Raje, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry Tatyana Sorokina, Professor, Department of Mathematics Catherine Wijnands, Lecturer II, Department of Biological Sciences
Cook Libraries	Adam Zukowski, Metadata & Linked Data Strategies Librarian

Questions? Email provost AT_TOWSON.