Grambling Search Update (excerpt from the ULS Board Action newsletter)

The following information is from the February Board Action newsletter.

The Grambling State University Presidential Search Committee met on Feb. 24, 2015, to receive a report from its search firm, The Hollins Group, and discuss the tentative timeline.  Consultants Lawrence Hollins and Allen Sessoms reported they sent out 245 letters to potential applicants, received 21 inquiries or nominations, and have 37 completed applications.  Of the 37, 35 have a doctoral degree (including two with a juris doctorate), two are current presidents, four are former presidents, 14 are vice presidents, and six are women.  The UL System’s presidential search process calls for all applications to go through the search firm.  Applicants do not become official candidates until the firm presents its recommended candidates to the committee. 

The consultants stated the candidates best suited for Grambling are actively employed in the higher education sector and are the most hesitant to become public candidates until there is further clarity on Louisiana’s higher education financial future.  They recommended the search committee wait or risk losing the strongest candidates.   “Right now we are looking for a leader who can take the university forward.  If the cuts outlined by the Governor on Friday are retained, you will be looking for a different kind of leader,” said Hollins.

No vote was taken on the tentative timeline.  UL System President and Search Chair Sandra Woodley stated the ultimate goal is still to have a new Grambling president in place before the fall semester, and that we will wait until April when the session begins to see if there is enough clarity to expedite the process.  “It is everyone’s goal to select a new president as quickly as possible, but that cannot come at the expense of having the best pool of candidates,” said Woodley.

For search information, visit www.ulsystem.edu/GramblingSearch.