Rachel Jane Allen
rallen19@uwyo.edu
The first committee searching for the next UW president completed its duties Friday, and is passing along its list of semi-finalists to the second committee.
On April 13 UW President Dick McGinity suggested that the board of trustees start a search for his successor, who would take over at the conclusion of his contract the following summer.
Seven months later a list of semifinalists for the position have been approved. The names of all the candidates are being kept confidential until all of the finalists are chosen.
The call went out in October, on the Vitae career hub.
The presidential announcement opened with, “The board of trustees of the University of Wyoming announces a search for a president with bold vision, high energy, an ability to work effectively with diverse constituents and the capability to lead the institution in fulfilling the university’s public land-grant mission.”
The board of trustees has been divided into committees. Each board is comprised of 12 to 14 members. The first committee selected the semifinalists. This list has been passed on to the second committee, who will choose the finalists.
Stakeholders in the university will be able to meet the finalists and give their opinions to the board. Individual interviews will be conducted with each finalist, and the presidential successor will be selected in a period starting in December.
“We are forwarding a strong group of candidates to the second committee and are excited to pass the torch in the selection process,” Trustee Jeff Marsh said.
Marsh chaired the first committee.
In the presidential announcement document the board of trustees included a list of traits the board was looking for in potential candidates. The first item on the list is “A compelling vision, impeccable integrity and exemplary leadership ability to drive positive change to ensure that UW offers quality higher education instruction and research relevant to the 21st century.”
Other traits included good listening skills, a sense of humor, experience in fundraising and other leadership skills one might find in a company CEO.
UW student Mike Morrow said he expects similar traits in the next president.
Psychology major and junior Morrow said he wants, “somebody who takes a student’s needs as top priority, and who thinks about people attending school before people in the community.”
The second committee will begin work Thursday, and a final decision for the next UW president could be announced as soon as December.
