Salma Ghanem cut her own introduction to the Central Michigan University community short Tuesday.

The chairwoman of the department of communication from the University of Texas Pan American decided to go right into the question-and answer session of her open forum Tuesday in Moore Hall’s Townsend Kiva. Ghanem is a finalist for the College of Communication and Fine Arts dean position.

The extended question session gave attending faculty and students a chance to interact with her.

During the forum, she impressed several faculty members such as Randi L’Hommedieu, chairwoman of the School of Music.

“I thought she was very personal,” L’Hommedieu said. “She listened to each person’s questions carefully.”

Ghanem’s listening skills were not the only thing to catch L’Hommedieu’s attention.

“I liked her emphasis on collaboration between faculty and administration,” L’Hommedieu said.

Ghahem also said she would look to compromise with problems that would occur in the college if hired.

She said several times that in many disagreements there is almost always a middle ground. She said that when there is no middle ground, faculty and administration have to decide which option will be more beneficial to the students.

“I tend to be very much a student advocate,” Ghanem said.

Her stance in keeping students actively involved grabbed Troy junior Brian Leonard’s attention.

“She seemed like she really cared about student input,” he said.

Ghanem touched on how important she felt student involvement is to a university.

“I do believe in an open-door policy,” Ghanem said. “The students are the closest to what is happening in a program. Their feedback is important.”

Ghanem was asked by a member of the forum how she would transition from being a member of faculty at UTPA to a dean at CMU.

She said that there is a vast difference between the two positions and that the position of dean comes with a new list of responsibilities.

She has served as chairwoman since 2001 and has taught at UTPA since 1994.

“They are different positions and require different approaches,” Ghanem said, “A dean has to be very careful that they don’t become too isolated.”

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E-mail the author: Seth Nietering