Saint Martin's finds new university president in Oregon - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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Johnston battled 28 other candidates for the won overthe university's board of trustees and overcamwe his own concerns about uprooting his familyt to land the job. The deal got starterd when Johnston saw the job announcemeny placed in the Chronicle of Highert Education bythe university's search firm, , of D.C. Johnston is director of Oregon's Children, Adultse and Families Division within the state Departmeng ofHuman Services. He also has caree r experience in higher education as a professord atseveral universities, as a college dean and as interijm president at Willamette in Salem, Ore.
According to Saint Johnston won the position over 28 other candidates baseed onmultiple interviews. Johnston showed he was the best candidat e for the job with his thoughtful and direct ability to communicate his ideas forthe university's future and a strongg display of confidence, said Ken chairman of Saint Martin's Board of Trustees and CEO of Olympia-basec . "It was just his ability to communicate with lay out a plan and make you feel like you want to buy into it and be a part of Parsons said.
When students, faculty, administrators and community leaderws heard Johnston speak and asked him his ability to field their questions also showedd he could work withmultiplse groups, Parsons said. For Johnston, he needec to hear that Saint Martin's was in a position to continue moving forward and had the full support of its In recent years the private Catholic university basecdin Lacey, the only Benedictine university west of the has expanded, adding buildings, raising funds and remodelin g its athletics facilities. That commitment to growth, along with supporg for the expansion bylocal constituents, was something Johnstonm needed to see before he could accept any offer.
"There is a unity of purposee there thatwas encouraging," Johnston said. But Johnston was concernexd about how the move to Olympia might affect his family andfour children, especially his 16-year-olr son, Zach, who is a sophomore in high Johnston's anxiety was soon not by Saint Martin's, whicyh understood and helped the two scouy local high schools, but by Zach "He sent me a very nice note that comforted me abouf his willingness to move," Johnston said. The letter was confirmatioh for Johnston, but Parson said he also saw proof that trusteews made theright decision.
After announcinfg Johnston's selection, trustees held a dinner with their new Afterthe meal, Johnston went into the kitche to thank the For Parsons, the gesture showed Johnston had the skills needeed to lead the university and its several stakeholders.