MSU announces presidential search timeline

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan State University will have a new president by June 2019, according to a tentative timeline unveiled Wednesday morning.

Trustees Dianne Byrum and Melanie Foster unveiled the school's presidential search process while emphasizing their commitment to involving the greater MSU community in the search.

They said the timing is subject to change, but created the following timeline and launched a new website:

  • July-October 2018: Host listening sessions with the MSU community
  • July 2018: Issue request for proposals from presidential search firms
  • August 2018: Form the search committee, which will include students, faculty and alumni
  • September 2018: Conduct search firm interviews and make a selection
  • October 2018: Finalize the position profile and release publicly
  • November 2018-January 2019: Identify candidates and conduct initial interviews
  • February-May 2019: Host finalist interviews with the Board of Trustees
  • June 2019: Announce the selection of the new MSU president

The school has also enlisted Dr. Teresa Sullivan as a consultant throughout the process. She currently serves as the president at the University of Virginia, but will join MSU on Aug. 1 after her retirement.

The new president will be the 21st president of the university, following President Lou Anna K. Simon's resignation amid fallout from the Larry Nassar scandal.

Faculty members who attended the announcement questioned the trustees about holding listening sessions over the summer when less people are on campus, but the trustees said they are trying to meet demands that they begin a search quickly.

"We sense that there's a lot of anxiousness to begin a presidential search and so we hear that and that's why we're being expeditious about it," Trustee Foster said in response, adding they purposely chose to continue the listening sessions through the fall.

The announcement means interim president John Engler will remain in his position for another year unless he steps down or is removed by the board. Last Friday, he affirmed his intent to stay with the university despite fierce calls to resign.

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