Julian Schuster, the new senior vice president and provost at Webster U., was presented with a unique challenge upon his hiring.
“This is a completely new position, that needs to be unequivocally clear,” said Schuster, 51, who took the position less than a month ago. “This is a position that (President Beth) Stroble has created. I will serve as provost and senior vice president.”
Schuster graduated with a doctorate in economics from U. Belgrade in his home country, the former Yugoslavia, now known as Serbia. While fluent in five languages, Schuster said he “has knowledge” of all of the languages in Eastern Europe, and is studying Italian and Spanish.
Schuster, who recently visited his family in the former Yugoslavia, has his roots in international education facilities across the globe.
“I always have said Webster has a vision, a vision that we are a U.S.-based premier international university,” Schuster said. “This is good, because I consider myself to be a U.S. based international scholar.”
Schuster will have plenty to keep him busy – he and the other members of President Stroble’s leadership team continue to determine the exact job portfolio of the provost.
“It is a developing issue,” he said. “I will be the chief academic officer and advisor to Stroble. My portfolio is being determined as we speak.”
Part of the provost’s duties will involve consulting deans and department chairs on changes in curriculum and developing new educational programs, Schuster said.
“Do not forget, you know, I am also a professor,” he said. “I joined university not to be an administrator, but to be a professor. That idea did not change in me just because I am not part of the leadership. I have always wanted to teach, it’s something I valued a lot. The career of a university professor gives a lot of maneuvering space for other opportunities.”
Some of the “maneuvering” has afforded Schuster time to write, and he is currently finishing the second edition to his first book, which he calls “a reference book about the political, economic and historical developments of the former Yugoslavia.”
Schuster’s book, which he considers just a hobby, was written out of his “desire to bring knowledge and understanding to the American reader.” Schuster remains calm and optimistic, despite his new workload and the unknown of his new position at Webster.
“I think Webster is poised for a bright future under Stroble,” Schuster said. “Webster will change as environment changes, but it is not going to be a passive player. Webster is going to take an active role in changing the landscape of American higher education, and global higher education. For me, being a part of that is the most exciting.”