The purpose of the Dole Institute of Politics remains even as its director is leaving, Kansas University officials said Wednesday.

And while the departure of Richard Norton Smith is likely to slow fund-raising efforts and planning for academic programming, university leaders vowed to continue their quest to create a prominent center for debate on political issues.

“In the best possible worlds, he wouldn’t be leaving and we’d have that type of continuity,” said Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international programs and chairwoman of the institute’s academic advisory board. “But you can’t think of a place as being a person. It has to have a life of its own that goes beyond a director, that goes beyond people and personalities.”

Smith was introduced Wednesday as the new director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. He starts Dec. 1.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway named Steve McAllister, dean of the law school, to lead the institute until a replacement is found next year. Hemenway said he hoped to have a permanent director hired by May. KU will conduct a national search for a new director, he said, but local candidates also will be considered.

McAllister said he hadn’t ruled out being considered for the permanent job. Burdett Loomis, chairman of KU’s political science department who served as the institute’s interim director before Smith was hired, said he did not want to be considered.

“The expectation would be that the new director would have the ability to reach out both in the state of Kansas and nationally to enlist support for the institute,” Hemenway said. “It’s basically the kind of expectation you have any time you’re recruiting for a high-profile position at the university — somebody who understands the local context and brings attention to the Dole Institute of Politics.”

The Dole Institute is an $11.3 million, 28,000-square-foot facility on KU’s west campus. It houses 4,000 boxes of papers and other materials from former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole’s political career, along with an exhibit on the former senator and presidential candidate.

Dole said in a statement that he would lend his assistance to KU’s search process.

“No doubt about it, (Smith’s) departure leaves very big shoes to fill,” Dole said. “I look forward to being closely involved in the upcoming search process, and am confident that we will find an individual who will provide the leadership necessary to keep the Dole Institute at the center of today’s political debates.”

It was unclear Wednesday whether any of Smith’s four-person staff would join him at the Lincoln library.

National significance?

Polly Bales, of Logan, a longtime Dole supporter who has donated funds for the institute, said she thought Smith’s departure was a major blow.

“He could have continued and carried out this vision for all that could be done, but it didn’t work out that way,” she said. “I hope to goodness they can come up with someone who shares some of that vision.”

She said she didn’t think having a nationally known scholar was a prerequisite.

“It would have to take someone who either knew something about Bob Dole or very willing to find out everything they can about him,” she said.

Deanell Tacha, chief judge of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who led the search committee that hired Smith, said she thought it would be possible for KU to hire a well-known figure, though she didn’t know who the top candidates might be.

She cited the institute’s July dedication events — which drew thousands of people and dignitaries such as former President Jimmy Carter and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani — in saying the institute has a national image.

“I’d say (Smith) has the institute up to such a good start, now it’ll be much easier to attract a person of national reputation,” Tacha said. “I don’t view it as a bump in the road. Any search presents its challenges. But I’m very hopeful that we can hire (someone of national prominence). I’m very optimistic about that.”

Awkward time?

Smith’s departure comes as the academic advisory board has just started working on a long-term plan for funding the institute’s programming.

Carlin said the advisory board would continue meeting, with a goal of reporting back to university officials by the first of November.

In addition to public programming, such as the Presidential Lecture Series that drew thousands to hear presidential scholars last November, the institute may start a leadership program and play host to additional scholarly programs, among other options.

“What we’re talking about now are the things that should be done regardless of who is director,” Carlin said. “These are generic things that will be in place through new directors and new faculty on the advisory board.”

Dale Seuferling, president of the KU Endowment Association, said having a permanent director in place would be important for fund raising, though he said McAllister’s knowledge of the institute and KU would help in the transition.

Hemenway has said he wanted the institute’s operations endowment to reach $20 million. It now sits at $4.5 million.

“We’re focusing on programming and working with Richard on a fund-raising plan for that to go forward,” Seuferling said.

Home-town connection

McAllister, who has been at KU since 1993, said he didn’t want to hold back on either the academic programming or fund raising. He said he would work on both projects, while continuing his work at the law school.

“My goal is to keep things moving forward, not to let them slide or give out,” he said.

He said he especially wanted to see the Dole Institute focus on programming for schoolchildren, in addition to bringing in scholars and politicians to speak.