Thursday, February 3, 2022
Dear Members of the OSU Community,
I write to provide an update on the significant activity occurring in the search process for Oregon State University’s next president.
In January, trustees, members of the presidential search advisory committee and the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller held 15 listening sessions to gather input from OSU community members and stakeholders on the qualities and qualifications that OSU’s next president should possess and the opportunities and challenges facing the university. More than 200 people participated in these listening sessions and over 140 comments were received from community members via a web survey.
The community listening sessions and survey feedback informed the creation of the Presidential Profile that the Board of Trustees unanimously adopted Friday during its public board meeting.
The profile calls upon the university’s next president to advance OSU’s momentum in research, teaching and public engagement while remaining true to OSU’s commitment to inclusive excellence. The profile is key to recruiting and evaluating candidates as the board engages with the search advisory committee and university community members and stakeholders.
Nominations for president are welcome and should be submitted to [email protected] as soon as possible to allow maximum time for consideration. Working with the search firm over the next three months, the advisory committee will vet candidates and conduct screening interviews.
In May, semi-finalists will be interviewed, and the Board of Trustees will announce the names of finalists in a public meeting. Finalists will be invited to visit the Corvallis campus; participate in public forums and meetings with university community members and stakeholders, including search advisory committee members; and be interviewed by the board. The board then will gather and review community and stakeholder input on candidates, and hold a special board meeting in late May to select OSU’s next president. An overview of this process is found on the search website.
The new president is anticipated to take office in July.
Community awareness and participation in this process is essential and a board priority. While the bylaws governing the Board of Trustees charge the board with hiring the president, trustees are committed to involving OSU community members and stakeholders in a collaborative and transparent search.
Throughout the search, Trustee Julie Manning, chair of the search advisory committee and I will provide updates at meetings, in emails and on the Board of Trustees website while inviting and promoting opportunities for engagement.
Along with my fellow trustees, I look forward to the community’s involvement during this important process.
Sincerely,
Kirk Schueler
Chair
OSU Board of Trustees