New vice-chancellor shares vision for transformative community
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Kevin Petrie’s “calm . . . but determined” leadership style will be challenged by the impact of the coronavirus. But he says nothing will hold back his vision to transform students who then go and transform their communities. Petrie explains more in this question and answer with Public Relations Officer Brenton Stacey.
This “experiment on the Dora” continues into its 124th year but the coronavirus is perhaps the greatest threat to our longevity. What qualities will you be encouraging staff members and students to bring as part of our response to the pandemic?
Flexibility will continue to be important, as will tenacity. We continue to respond to an ever-changing context and that means being alert and agile. In regards to our students, I’d also encourage the value of trust. The staff members genuinely have the students’ best interests at heart and will be doing everything possible to ensure they’re well supported and can complete a successful academic year. Above all, it’s important for us to place our trust in a God who reads the future as easily as He does the past.
What will you use to measure your effectiveness as a leader at Avondale? What are your key performance indicators?
A number of goals are important for us to achieve as a team, some of which are easier to measure than others. I’d see success as our ability to move towards a shared set of goals in a deliberate, systematic and collaborate manner. The question of KPIs is a big one. At a personal level, I have eight about which I feel passionate. They are to:
1. Facilitate the faith journey of students;
2. Achieve financial sustainability;
3. Provide service learning opportunities for every student;
4. Maintain processes that benchmark excellence;
5. Align excellence and mission in academic endeavours;
6. Demonstrate growth in positive culture and climate;
7. Become an influential centre for “theory, practice and innovation” in wellbeing, and;
8. Achieve university status.
Where will you be leading us? Summarise your vision for Avondale.
My vision for Avondale is that it transforms students who then go and transform their communities.
The demands on leaders are great. How will you prioritise the sharing of your vision?
If you’re passionate about something, you can’t hold it back. If vision is not part of my thinking on a daily basis, I’ve lost the plot.
Avondale is a provider of Christian higher education. What principle from the life of Christ or passage from the Bible guides you in your journey of faith?
My favourite text in the New Testament is, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13, NRSV). God’s great passion is in reconciliation and in drawing people close to Him, where He knows they will experience completeness. We get to play an important part in this work, and that’s exciting.”
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