Chabotar has served as the president for finance and administration and treasurer of Bowdoin College for the past 11 years. During that time, Bowdoin has experienced a financial crisis and major campus construction overhaul, according to Chabotar.
Chabotar earned a B.A in Political Science from Saint Francis University as well as a M.P.A. and Ph.D from Syracuse University in Public Administration.
Chabotar began his remarks by referring to the recent coverage by The Student of each treasurer candidate and the titles attached to each. "What are they going to call this conversation?" he asked. "They can frankly call me anything they want as long as it is not the loser!"
Chabotar explained why Amherst is an attractive prospect for him and why he is interested in leaving Bowdoin. "It is time for new challenges for me," he said. "I think [Bowdoin and Amherst] share many things but [Amherst is] also different."
"What are you like as an administrator to work with?" asked Director of Information Technology Phil Fitz, who also asked Chabotar to give examples of what his colleagues would say about him. "They would say that Kent is a big picture guy," responded Chabotar. "They'd say that he is really good about feedback."
Chabotar also explained that his approach to management is data focused. "I am data driven," he said. "I don't want to argue about the facts."
Chabotar emphasized that financial concerns are paramount for a college treasurer. However, he explained that a focus on human resources is essential to his administrative approach.
Chabotar then asked the audience a question. "What about Amherst as an institution attracts you to stay, what works for you?"
There were several responses highlighting the location, quality of faculty and students and alumni base of the College.
Librarian Will Bridegam asked Chabotar to compare the Five College Consortium to a consortium that Bowdoin shares with Colby and Bates Colleges.
"It allows us to do things with Colby and Bates that we couldn't do on our own," said Chabotar, giving a shared study abroad program as an example. "I don't think it has saved us any money," he added. "What it has done is allow us to offer more with less." He suggested that financial cooperation is "over and over again the roadblock to our sharing."
Chabotar asked the audience to be critical of the College. "What are things people say about Amherst that you wish they wouldn't say either because they are true or because they are not true?" he said.
The Office of Development's Senior Major Gifts Officer Scott Willson responded to Chabotar's question by citing the "air of smugness" that is perceived by outsiders to the College.
Director of Admission Katie Fretwell asked Chabotar to consider a hypothetical situation. "You have three million dollars and you are the only one who is going to advise the president at Bowdoin of where that money is going," said Fretwell.
Chabotar said that at Bowdoin he would put the money towards staff salaries. Fretwell asked the same question in reference to Amherst. Chabotar said that he thinks the money would be best used for faculty and staff salaries and benefits and for information technology.
The search committee hopes to make a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees by the end of the month.