The University of Michigan Board of Regents has restarted its hunt for a new president, reconvening the presidential search committee and signaling that candidate interviews are expected to begin soon. With the process back in motion, faculty, students, alumni and community partners once again have a chance to offer confidential feedback and nominations as the board works to refill the top job.
In last Wednesday's announcement, the board said the Presidential Search Committee has reconvened and invited community input through a confidential feedback form and nominations to the search consultant, according to The Regents of the University of Michigan. The message notes that the committee will rely on themes from last year’s listening sessions and a published leadership profile as it screens candidates.
Why the search is back on
Kent Syverud, who had been announced earlier this year to take the post, disclosed in April that "I have been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer" and will not assume the presidency, a statement from the regents that triggered a restart of the process, according to The Regents of the University of Michigan. Interim president Domenico Grasso will stay in place while the board and search committee work to identify a new leader.
Who’s running the search
The university is continuing to work with executive search firm Spencer Stuart, which led the earlier search and is again handling nominations and outreach, according to CBS Detroit. Outside consultants are expected to conduct confidential outreach to senior candidates while the committee organizes semifinal and finalist interviews.
How to participate
Members of the campus community can provide confidential feedback through an online form and may email nominations for candidates, per reporting by MLive. MLive also directs readers to the regents' presidential search site and notes that previous U-M presidential searches have typically taken six to nine months, offering a rough timetable for this round.
The board has said it will continue to provide updates as the search progresses, and the university is expected to announce interview dates and campus engagement opportunities in the coming weeks, per reporting by Bridge Michigan. The presidential search website and official regents postings are expected to carry notices about finalist visits and listening sessions.
