University hopes to name new president by end of April

In a March 27 memo to the university community, Board of Trustees Chairman David Parker provided an update on the presidential search process. Here is the communication:

The Presidential Search Advisory Committee met Wednesday to discuss the next phase of the search process and to prepare for the candidate selection and interview phase of the process.
Our consultants on this project, former university presidents and nationally renowned search executives Jan Greenwood and Betty Asher, laid out a process and timeline expected to come to a conclusion on Saturday, April 25, 2009, with the selection of a new president for Florida International University.

As you know, Greenwood/Asher has worked closely with our search committees to conduct open forums on campus, put together a position description, advertise the position and actively recruit through their extensive national network of contacts. Hundreds of individuals throughout the nation have been contacted regarding to this opportunity. Dr. Greenwood reported that there is interest in the position.

However, Dr. Greenwood has alerted us that the pool of qualified candidates may not be large. Because of Florida’s government in the sunshine law, sitting presidents and other high-profile executives often hesitate before entering a public search process in our state. It is possible that we will have a number of last-minute candidates officially declare their interest in the position just before the April 16 deadline in order to limit their public exposure. This is the reason for a relatively short eight-day interview process. Our sensitivity to this concern has led us to work very closely with Greenwood/Asher to design an expedited, transparent and cost-effective search process that yields the highest possible number of qualified candidates.

This week Greenwood shared with the Presidential Search Advisory Committee the materials filed by candidates who have entered the process at this point. Due to the reasons stated previously, we expect that additional candidates will come forward before the committee meets again April 17 to begin the final phase of the search process. The list does not include many others who have been nominated or who have expressed their interest.

The Board of Trustees Search Committee, which I chair, is scheduled to meet next week to discuss a compensation study we commissioned. It is important to the success of our search that we have the most recent data regarding competitive compensation for university presidents of the caliber we seek. We have invited the officers of the Foundation to join us for this discussion because, as you know, a significant part of the president’s compensation is paid by the Foundation.

With compensation data in hand, we head into the intense process that commences on April 17 when the Presidential Search Advisory Committee begins reviewing the applications for president and forming its recommendations for the BOT search committee. The BOT search committee will then determine the three candidates who will be invited to University Park for interviews. The candidates will go through a day-long process of meeting with students, faculty, administrators, alumni and members of the community. These meetings are currently scheduled for April 22, 23 and 24. The BOT search committee will select two final candidates to put before the full Board of Trustees. Our objective is to extend an offer to one of the candidates during the afternoon of Saturday, April 25. Our selection will then go before the Board of Governors for ratification.

Finding the successor to Dr. Modesto A. Maidique, who has led our institution with vision and passion for more than two decades, is a difficult task. I thank the members of the Presidential Search Advisory Board, led by Executive Dean of Business Joyce Elam, my fellow trustees, and so many members of the university staff and community who are involved in this process. Everyone has given of their time selflessly for the benefit of the institution and will continue to do so for the next few weeks.

You may find more information on the search, including the position description, at the official presidential search site.

Questions or comments to the BOT search committee should be submitted to trustees@fiu.edu .

Questions or comments regarding the process should be directed to Senior Vice President Vivian Sanchez, vivian.sanchez@fiu.edu . 305-348-2101.

Media inquiries should go to Media Relations Director Maydel Santana-Bravo, santanam@fiu.edu , 305-348-1555.

Candidate recommendations or nominations should be made directly to Greenwood/Asher at jangreenwood@greenwoodsearch.com or bettyasher@greenwoodsearch.com