A letter from Sue Sharpe: Evaluation of candidates underway – PSAC to begin interviews

I am pleased to report that the Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) has selected a group of 17 candidates for first round interviews, from an initial pool of more than 70 applications.  Our consultants at Greenwood Asher built this pool of candidates through 411 separate contacts, including direct recruitment, responses to ad postings, and following up on nominations received from on and off campus.

The PSAC met February 6 to evaluate the credentials of the candidates against the evaluation criteria adopted by the Board of Trustees in December and to narrow the pool for first round interviews.  The Committee’s goal in first round interviews will be to identify finalists, all of whom are a good fit and well prepared to lead Western, for further consideration by the Board of trustees.

The Search Committee was impressed by the experience and qualifications of the candidates, and very pleased with the diversity of our pool, which exceeds national averages.  Candidates with a wide range of administrative and academic experiences were identified, including current university presidents and provosts from across the country.  The candidates come from other public comprehensive universities like Western, public university systems in other states, and reputable private universities.

This strong candidate response confirms what the Trustees have been told by consultants, advisors, and colleagues since the start of the search process—that Western enjoys an outstanding reputation nationwide, and that there would be a high level of interest from candidates who would like to be the next leader of our university.

I cannot overemphasize the debt of gratitude that the entire Western community owes to the members of the search committee who have worked tirelessly (mostly on weekends and evenings) for their efforts on our behalf to arrive at this stage of the process.  Their thoughtfulness, collegiality, and dedication to the best interests of the institution will ensure that our next president is not just highly qualified to lead us into the future, but understands the values and commitments that make Western such a special place.

I encourage you to check the Presidential Search website frequently for updates over the next month.

Respectfully,

Sue Sharpe

Chair, Presidential Search Advisory Committee

WWU Trustee