Finalists for the director of the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity will be interviewed this week.

Up for the position are Shawn Peoples, an Eastern alumna who is the current interim director of the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity, and Brett Haduch, who is set to graduate this spring with a doctorate from the University of North Texas in higher education administration.

Ryan Hendrickson, the dean of the graduate school and the chair of the search committee, said they were looking for applicants with at least five years of professional experience and experience with diversity and the promotion of it.

The search committee narrowed down to Peoples and Haduch from a list of approximately 20 applicants from their resumes, cover letters, references and the criteria Hendrickson described.

Peoples’ open interview session will take place from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, and Haduch’s will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday.

All interviews will take place in the 1895 Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, except the interview with Eastern President David Glassman, which will take place in his office.

Peoples earned a doctorate in philosophy in 2011 from Saint Louis University and has had 25 years of professional experience.

Haduch has worked in schools around Illinois and Texas since 2007 as a counselor and a campus coordinator.

Hendrickson said he does not have an exact date as to when a candidate will be chosen, but the search committee is charged with only making a recommendation to the other deciding people, such as the president.

English professor and search committee member Suzie Park said the committee was looking for someone who could bring energy to the position.

“We need somebody who is passionate about equity, diversity and fostering an inclusive learning environment (and) culture,” Park said.

Brooke Schwartz can be reached at 581-2812 or at bsschwartz@eiu.edu.