SEATTLE, Wash. — The WSU Board of Regents discussed the upcoming search for a new president of the university and announced the hiring of an executive search firm to assist in that process at Friday’s board meeting.
The board has chosen Greenwood and Associates, Inc., a Florida-based firm whose two principals, President and CEO Jan Greenwood and Vice President Betty Turner Asher, are both former university presidents. They have conducted successful presidential searches for major research universities, including Ohio State University, University of Florida and University of Texas at Austin, as well as for a number of smaller four- and two-year institutions.
“They bring a lot of experience to the search process. A strong search consultant is critical to assembling the best possible pool of candidates for this position. They will be a great asset to this process as it moves forward,” said Regent Rafael Stone, who is chairing the search advisory committee.
In July, WSU President V. Lane Rawlins announced his plans to retire in June 2007.
Shortly thereafter, the university issued a request for proposals seeking firms interested in participating in the search. Six firms responded. The three regents who are serving on the search committee – Stone, Connie Niva and Laura Jennings – worked with Board of Regents Chair Kenneth Alhadeff to narrow the field after interviewing three finalists. Alhadeff is an ex officio member of the search committee.
The consultant will play a lead role in identifying and recruiting candidates for the job and providing information on candidates to aid the committee in its decision-making.
At Friday’s meeting, the regents discussed the appointment of the rest of the members of the search advisory committee, a process they hope to complete within the next 10 days.
Alhadeff said the regents will seek to have the broadest possible representation of people across the university and from its constituency groups. He also said, as the process moves forward, the search committee will actively seek input in meetings across the state to find out what people want in a new WSU president.
