The search for a new athletic director at Cowley College is underway.
President Dr. Michelle Schoon told board members Monday afternoon the college has received over 20 applications.
Currently, Rama Peroo is the placeholder.
Peroo, who is already the college’s Director of Institutional Communication and Public Relations, was named interim athletic director following the resignation of previous AD Jason O’Toole on Jan. 24.
The resignation, initially effective Feb. 28, lit the fuse of existing animosity amongst college employees and community members against then-president Randy Smith, who was accused of forcing O’Toole to resign or be fired.
In the aftermath, which included questions regarding the board’s vetting process before Smith was hired in July, Smith was terminated by the Cowley Board of Trustees on Feb. 2.
Schoon was named interim president and O’Toole sent paperwork to the college’s human resources department to rescind his resignation a few days later.
However, during a meeting of the board on Feb. 20, trustees did not acknowledge O’Toole’s rescission letter and accepted his original resignation as part of the meeting’s consent agenda.
Schoon told the board Monday the college hopes to narrow down the candidate list to conduct interviews after Spring Break.
