UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – As Penn State searches for a new leader, faculty, staff and students will get the chance to offer input during two sessions Thursday (March 21) on campus.
The forums are set for 1 to 2 p.m., in Room 117 (the HUB Auditorium), HUB-Robeson Center; and 6 to 7 p.m., in Room 105, Forum Building. A forum also is planned for 2:15-3:15 p.m. March 22, in Room 102 (the Foster Auditorium), Paterno Library. The March 22 forum will be streamed online to Commonwealth Campuses. (Information and details for participation in the live Web stream will be sent directly to the campuses.) Additional forums for Commonwealth Campuses will be planned.
Current President Rodney Erickson has announced that he will retire no later than June 30, 2014. The University has established a Trustee Presidential Selection Council, and a University Presidential Search and Screen Committee as well as retained executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist with finding Penn State’s 18th president.
“We find listening to members of the University community gives us direction on the experiences and attributes we should seek in potential candidates as we build a strong pool for the Search and Screen Committee, and the Trustees to review,” said Michael Baer, vice president and director of Isaacson, Miller.
Attendees are encouraged to provide input and reflections, such as consideration of the challenges and opportunities Penn State is facing in the next 10 years and the qualifications, experiences and attributes that the next president should possess. Feedback from the forums will help Isaacson, Miller create a full position profile and provide contextual information as the firm’s representatives engage in dialogue with nominees and candidates.
“This is only the beginning, in a highly collaborative effort to find Penn State’s next leader” said Tom Poole, vice president for administration. “During the search process, the University will continue to reach out to faculty, staff and students.”
More information on the search is available at the newly launched Penn State Presidential Search website at http://presidentialsearch.psu.edu. The site will provide further opportunity for feedback as well as news updates on the process.