UConn President Thomas C. Katsouleas today announced the membership of the committee that will help to identify UConn’s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
The 19-person committee is composed mainly of distinguished faculty, including a faculty representative from each of UConn’s schools and colleges, as well as senior staff and two students – one undergraduate and one graduate. The group will review applicants by the end of the calendar year and interviews will take place in early 2020. Katsouleas said he expects to name a finalist in the spring to begin at UConn next summer.
The committee will be chaired by Sandra Chafouleas, a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in Educational Psychology. She is also a former associate dean in the Graduate School and the Neag School of Education, former member of the University Senate, and a senate representative to the Board of Trustees.
Over the summer, Katsouleas asked the deans to nominate three faculty members from their school or college to serve on the committee. He selected one of the three for each, as well as staff and students, with an eye on building an intellectually and ethnically diverse group.
“I want to thank every member of the search committee for agreeing to undertake this important task for the University, and especially Sandy for agreeing to chair it,” Katsouleas said. “As our chief academic officer, the provost is among our most critical leaders. The next provost will be responsible for collaboratively developing our next academic plan, which will guide our strategic growth in the years ahead.
“In addition to diversity and compatibility with me and other senior members of the administration, what I am most looking for in a candidate is a track record of extraordinary achievement. My focus will be on the aspects of their experience that demonstrate transformational leadership,” Katsouleas said.
Members of the community are invited to share their perspectives and thoughts with the president and the search committee regarding this position, potential candidates, and the search by e-mailing the president’s office directly at president@uconn.edu, and should include “provost search” in the subject line. Nominations of both internal and external candidates are welcome, Katsouleas said.
Although the search process will be confidential, in addition to the search committee, each finalist will meet with key campus constituencies, including the University Senate Executive Committee, deans and regional campus directors, student leaders, union leadership, and other members of the administration. Feedback from each group will be gathered and provided to Katsouleas before he makes a final determination.
Find a complete listing of the search committee members here.
