PASSHE chancellor grants KU Council of Trustees authorization to initiate presidential search process
By Bethany McDonald
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education has granted the KU Council of Trustees to commence the search process for potential presidential candidates.
First row (seated, left to right): Kevin Harden Jr., Esq.; Robert Grim, Esq.; Kenneth Hawkinson, Jim Ludlow; Second row (standing, left to right): Guido Pichini, Sandy Green, Dianne Lutz, Payton Mentzer, Philips Armstrong; Not pictured: Dennis Giorno, Dan Greenstein, Tom Heck
Photo Credit: Kutztown University: Council of Trustees
PASSHE has provided guidelines to define the presidential search committee, consultant’s expertise, committee responsibilities, presidential involvement and council recommendations. The guidelines are to be followed to operationalize the presidential recommendation process.
The standards set by the Office of the Chancellor ensure that the committee follows through with responsibilities such as defining the expectations of presidential candidates and providing a timeline for the presidential search. Once the committee has gone through the search process, the council shall submit the names and dossiers of two desired candidates to the chancellor by the effective date.
The Presidential Search Committee has elected one willing faculty member to serve on the committee. Voting opened Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. and closed Sept. 23 at 11:45 p.m. for KU staff. The faculty member who received the second-highest vote count will be an alternative committee member.
The search committee plays a crucial role in evaluating applicants, for it is their job to sort through the qualities and accomplishments of dozens of applicants to determine the best fit for KU.
The position announcement is advertised on the university website, the website for the selected search firm that will be assisting KU and higher education employment websites.
“The committee then spends a substantial amount of time interviewing the final dozen or so candidates, and we anticipate the final three or four will come to campus for a more public final interview,” Dennis A. Giorno, chairperson of KU Council of Trustees said.
The search committee is searching for candidates with admirable qualities to give direction to the search firm. Giorno emphasized the quality of leadership.
“The next president must show the ability to lead an organization, and sometimes that may include having to make tough/unpopular decisions,” Giorno said.
Giorno emphasized that KU is receptive to change under the new presidency.
“The next president shouldn’t do things a certain way just because it’s the way it has always been done. Fresh ideas and change can be good for an organization,” Giorno said.
The search is anticipated to start in the immediate future and conclude this spring, with the new president starting in July 2025.