Contact: Jennifer Hollingshead
Office: (573) 882-0601
E-mail: hollingsheadj@umsystem.edu
The 911±¬ÁÏÍø Board of Curators is considering the hiring of an executive recruiting firm to guide its search for a new president. The Board interviewed representatives of three nationally recognized search firms during a meeting Thursday in Columbia, but no final agreement was reached with any firm.
Don Walsworth, chair of the Board of Curators, said he hoped an agreement with a single firm would be reached soon. The Board is next scheduled to discuss the presidential search during its regular meeting Jan. 25-26 on the campus of the 911±¬ÁÏÍø-St. Louis. The Board voted unanimously on Thursday to have all nine of its members, along with the Student Representative to the Board, serve as its presidential search committee.
"We're looking for the best person available to serve as our next president," Walsworth said.
Walsworth said the Board would work with an executive search firm to identify the qualities it seeks in a president. He also said the Board would encourage comments and participation in the search process from University constituencies including students, faculty, staff and alumni.
The Board is searching for a successor to President Elson S. Floyd, who has led the four-campus system for four years. Floyd was selected last month to serve as the next president of Washington State University. Walsworth said Floyd informed the Board that he would be willing to continue serving as president through late spring, as the Board searches for his successor.
Reviewed 2010-06-15