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Presidential Search

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Dear Members of the Ashland University Community,

I am writing with an update on the search for our next president.

As we previously communicated, we have attracted a very well-qualified pool of applicants and just completed two rounds of interviews with the top candidates. Our work continues as we gather more information about each of the applicants we have selected to continue moving forward through the search process. Each of these applicants is in a high-profile position that requires continued confidentiality on our part.

At some point in the next few weeks, the on-campus interview stage of the search process will commence. This will afford time for the full Board and a few others from the campus to become involved in a confidential way. Once the fortunate candidate has been chosen, it will still take a while before any public announcement can be made. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work through this process.

I cannot say enough how grateful I am to all search committee members whose names are listed below. They have worked long and hard reading applications and assessing candidates. Perhaps most important they have been extraordinary partners as we have attempted to inspire candidates about the opportunities here at Ashland University should they be offered the presidency. We can only hire one president, but I know that many more have left our interviews wishing that they could be that one.

• Paul McKnight, Co-Chair
• Steven Cole, Co-Chair
• Pat Gravatt
• Rob Ward
• John Denman
• Joyce Lamb
• Tim Solomon
• Dustin Ness
• Jim Hess
• Rick Ewing
• Mary Deloe
• Dr. Greg McBrayer
• Dr. Shawn Orr
• Dr. Jason Barnhart
• Dr. Dan Fox
• Giovanni Hutchings
• Catherine A. Williams- Secretary

We will keep you posted, as we are able.

Sincerely,

Jim Hess
Chairman, Ashland University Board of Trustees

Paul McKnight and Steve Cole
Co-Chairs Presidential Search Committee

Ashland University Community, Alumni, and Friends:

The application phase of the presidential search is underway. The search committee and our search consultants are collecting resumes from interested candidates and will soon be evaluating them, with the goal to begin interviewing candidates in the coming weeks. If you know of someone whom you would like to recommend for consideration, please send their name and contact information to AshlandPresident@academicsearch.org.

Thank you for your commitment to Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary.

Jim Hess
Chairman of the Ashland University Board of Trustees
Steven Cole and Paul McKnight
Co-Chairs, Ashland University Presidential Search Committee

Dear Members of the Ashland Faculty and Staff,

I am pleased to announce that we have formally launched the search for the next president of Ashland University. I am grateful to the AU community for providing valuable input and insight that helped inform the Presidential Search Committee's understanding of the skills and attributes and important work ahead for Ashland's next leader. Working collaboratively with our partners from Academic Search, we have prepared a presidential search prospectus to provide an overview of AU, outline the key elements of a leadership agenda, and describe the desired characteristics for our next president.

The search prospectus will be used to introduce Ashland and the presidential opportunity to prospective candidates. The position will be advertised in a wide variety of publications beginning this week, and the formal recruiting process will also begin. The Academic Search team will be busy in the coming weeks as presidential candidates are identified and actively encouraged to apply. If you know of someone whom you would like to recommend for consideration, please send their name and contact information to AshlandPresident@academicsearch.org.

As we begin the search process, it is important to note that we are committed to conducting the search in a manner that will attract the strongest possible pool of candidates for consideration. This commitment requires protecting the confidentiality of candidates who enter the search process. We expect many of our candidates will be highly distinguished, visible leaders whose current positions would be in jeopardy should their identities become known. I hope you will understand how our commitment to confidentiality serves Ashland's best interests and precludes wide participation from the campus community. However, when the finalists for the position are interviewed, we hope to be able to introduce these candidates to a small group of faculty, staff, and students, who will pledge to honor the confidentiality of candidates, just as our search committee members have. We will know more and have more to say about this, as the search process unfolds.

We are excited about this work and have confidence the search will bring us a dynamic and innovative leader who will advance and strengthen Ashland for the future.

The Presidential Search webpage will provide updates as the search progresses. In the meantime, please have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,
James Hess
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Ashland University Community, Alumni, and Friends:

The Presidential Search Committee is excited to announce that they have chosen Academic Search as the partner to lead the presidential search for Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary.

Daniel DiBiasio, Ph.D. and Sharon Herzberger, Ph.D. will be spearheading the search process with Academic Search. The firm has a proven track record of success in higher education, and the committee is confident in its ability to find the right candidate for Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary.

The Search Committee commenced work in late September and finalized the RFP in mid-October. Eight firms submitted proposals and were evaluated based on their credentials, interviews and references. After careful consideration, Academic Search was selected by consensus of the full presidential search committee. 

In the next few weeks, there will be more opportunities for campus and community members to be involved in the search process. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to presidentialsearch@ashland.edu. Please stay tuned for further announcements.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Jim Hess
Chairman of the Ashland University Board of Trustees

Steven Cole and Paul McKnight
Co-Chairs, Ashland University Presidential Search Committee

Ashland University Community, Alumni, and Friends:

Homecoming serves as an incredible reminder to reflect on the profound impact that Ashland University has had on each of us. It is a time to reconnect with those who love and support the university. We humbly request that you join us in prayer and positive momentum as we embark on our search for a new president.

No matter where you are, we invite you to join us in a word of prayer.

Please ask God to provide us with wisdom and discernment throughout the search process.

Pray that our next president will be the person God will use to help move our great university and seminary forward to the bright and impactful future He desires for us.

Pray for unity of heart in our community during and after this selection process.

Pray for His continued blessing on this great university and seminary.

Amen.

Blessings,

Jim Hess
Chairman of the Ashland University Board of Trustees

Steven Cole and Paul McKnight
Co-Chairs, Ashland University Presidential Search Committee