Search for new provost begins

President Bob Davies has appointed 25 individuals representing faculty, staff and students to a search committee for the nationwide search for Central Michigan University's next provost.

The provost is the university's chief academic officer and works with the president to set CMU's academic priorities and to allocate resources to achieve those priorities.

In September, current Provost Mary C. Schutten announced she would step down effective Dec. 31, 2021.

The search committee will be chaired by Betty Kirby, interim dean of the College of the Arts and Media.

The other search committee members are:

• John Allen, faculty, earth and atmospheric sciences.
• Ernie Bedford, executive director, Global Campus Enterprise.
• Jodi Brookins-Fisher, faculty, School of Health Sciences.
• Ray Christie, senior vice provost, academic administration.
• Tracy Davis, faculty, English language and literature.
• Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president, student recruitment and retention.
• Lisa Gandy, chairperson, computer science.
• Colleen Green, director, Native American Programs.
• Eltaro Hooper, civil rights and Title IX investigator.
• Kathy Irwin, dean, libraries.
• Matthew Katz, faculty, philosophy and religion.
• Kate King, president, Student Government Association.
• Michael Mamp, faculty, fashion, interior design and merchandising.
• Stephanie Mathson, faculty, library research and instruction services.
• Margaret Mayes, faculty, School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts.
• Amy McGinnis, faculty, management.
• Robert Noggle, faculty, philosophy and religion.
• Hajime Otani, chairperson, psychology.
• Shawna Patterson-Stephens, vice president and chief diversity officer.
• Katrina Piatek-Jimenez, chair of the Academic Senate and faculty, mathematics.
• Neli Ragina, faculty, College of Medicine.
• Alejandro Salais, graduate student.
• Brad Swanson, director, Graduate Studies, and faculty, biology.
• Kyle Pybus-Jerome, ceremonies and events coordinator, President's Office (Administrative Support/Human Resources representative)

The search consulting firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates will assist the committee. The committee invites the campus community to provide input on the leadership competencies and experience desired for an ideal candidate for CMU's next provost. Open forums are scheduled from 11-11:45 a.m. and from 2-2:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, in the Bovee University Center Terrace Rooms C and D.

Individuals who are not able to attend the open forums may submit comments to provostsearch@cmich.edu.