A search committee for a new director for Student Housing chose one of two candidates with no NIU experience and was tabbed for the job over three NIU housing veterans.

Carl Jardine, director of Residence Life at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater since 1985, was named to the position late last week, said Barbara Henley, vice president for Student Affairs. Jardine’s position becomes effective June 1.

“He brings to the position a wealth of administrative experience,” Henley said. “The breadth and depth of his experience in housing were major considerations in his selection.”

An 11-person search committee recommended Jardine to Henley after an extensive national search, said Donald Buckner, former director for Student Housing and associate vice president for Student Affairs.

Although he has never worked at NIU, Jardine was chosen from five candidates, three of which have been and are presently employed at NIU.

Other candidates were John Felver, associate director for Student Housing, Willard Draper and Linda Lancaster Tillis, NIU’s assistant directors for Student Housing and Chika Nnamani, associate director for Residence Life at Illinois State University in Normal.

Felver said because he was a candidate for the position it would “not be appropriate” for him to comment on the selection. Although, he added, he met Jardine and said he believes he is “very knowledgeable.”

Felver has worked at NIU in different housing positions since 1966.

The position is an “ongoing appointment,” Buckner said. The length of time Jardine will be director cannot be determined, he added.

Jardine was the associate director for Residence Life at U of W from 1981 to 1985, the coordinator for Residence Hall Programs at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, from 1977 to 1981 and Head Resident Adviser from 1974 to 1977 at Western Illinois University in Macomb.

He has a master’s of science in counseling and college personnel from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan., and a bachelor of arts in psychology from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan.