Eastern is looking for a new assistant director for the Academic Advising Center.

A seven-member search committee has been formed and is accepting applications.

Applicants must possess a masters in guidance and counseling or a related degree and should have at least five years of college-level experience, including advising.

The new assistant director will report directly to Karla Sanders, director of the Center for Academic Support and Achievement. In an e-mail Monday, Sanders said the position opened up when Mary Kelm resigned.

“The position is the chief administrator for the Academic Advising Center and also will act as an academic advisor,” she said. “We want a candidate who has advising experience, who has good people skills and who can be an asset to the university.”

The position is open to candidates within the university, and the search process will remain open until the position is filled. However, to be included in the search committee’s initial screening, candidates should submit applications by Nov. 16.

John Kilgore, English professor, was chosen to chair the search committee. The remaining six members of the committee are Kathy Bennett, assistant to the dean in the Lumpkin College of Business; Johnetta Jones, director of Minority Student Affairs; Rita Pearson, assistant admissions director; Molly Evans, assistant registration director; Kim Moock, director of orientation; and Mike Shirley, assistant history professor.

The committee met for the first time on Oct. 15, and Kilgore said while he doesn’t have much experience serving on search committees, he was glad to learn that his fellow committee members have experience.

“I was very happy to learn that there’s plenty of expertise on the committee,” he said. “We’re hoping to have a preliminary screening the week after Thanksgiving.”

The position has been advertised on the university’s Web site and two related professional Web sites, but Kilgore said he expects an ad the committee is placing in The Chronicle of Higher Education to bring in applicants.

“I think The Chronicle is definitely where it’ going to see the most exposure,” he said.