Vice President of Institutional Advancement Patrick Sheahan abruptly left Columbia Jan. 15 after holding the position for less than four months, making the post the third high-ranking administrative position at the college without a permanent appointment.

Senior Vice President Warren Chapman will take over the Institutional Advancement office until the college can appoint a permanent vice president, according to President Kwang-Wu Kim. Eric Winston, who retired in August, previously held the position for eight years.

Despite several interview requests, Chapman declined to explain why Sheahan left or comment on the plans for the Office of Institutional Advancement. Sheahan could not be reached for comment as of press time.

The Institutional Advancement vacancy now joins two other key openings at the college, including the provost and Chief Financial Officer positions.

Former Chief Financial Officer Ken Gotsch resigned in August after only one year. While the college has not given any recent updates on the CFO search, it is currently down to two candidates for the permanent provost position, as reported on Page 3. Louise Love, vice president of Academic Affairs, has been the interim provost since 2011 and plans to retire once one has been selected.

Kim said the lack of a permanent CFO, provost and vice president of Institutional Advancement makes it difficult for him to make changes. However, filling these positions allows him get to know those administrators well, he said.

“From my perspective, it’s exciting because it’s an opportunity to build my team,” Kim said. “You don’t always get that opportunity.”

Two other departures were announced last week; Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deborah Holdstein and Executive Director of the Ellen Stone Bellic Institute Jane Saks announced on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively, that they will leave their positions. Their departures are detailed in stories on Page 4.

Michael Anderson, associate vice president of Institutional Advancement, said fundraising efforts and other initiatives handled by the Office of Institutional Advancement

will continue in Sheahan’s absence, Anderson said. His departure shouldn’t have a noticeable effect on students’ day-to-day life, he said.

“It’s just a change in leadership,” Anderson said. “The institution will just continue to move forward. It’s nothing to worry about.”

The college is now in the process of finding hiring firms to collect the best candidates for the vice president of Institutional Advancement position, according to Kim. The college is searching for candidates who can build teams, strengthen relationships with alumni and help Columbia raise money, he said. Although it can be difficult to find a suitable candidate in the middle of a semester, Kim said he hopes to find a replacement soon.

“Advancement work is a range, and we have to find someone to help us get the results that we need,” Kim said. “[Columbia needs] money and new relationships that will not only lead to money but other resources.”

Prior to coming to Columbia, Sheahan acted as the head of community affairs and corporate social responsibility at wealth management company UBS Americas for more than 10 years.

He is currently chair of the board of the Woods Fund Chicago, a local nonprofit organization that funds poverty reduction and

employment initiatives.

Update: 1/28/2014 – Correction: The Columbia Chronicle wrote… Two other departures were announced last week; Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deborah Holdstein and Executive Director of the Ellen Stone Bellic Institute Jane Saks are leaving their positions on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively. Their departures are detailed in stories on Page 4.

The corrected paragraph now reads… Two other departures were announced last week; Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deborah Holdstein and Executive Director of the Ellen Stone Bellic Institute Jane Saks announced on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively, that they will leave their positions. Their departures are detailed in stories on Page 4.

Correction: The Columbia Chronicle made an error in the title of Ken Gotsch. His title was Chief Financial Officer not Chief Executive Officer.