2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Provost search near end
3 finalists chosen, invited to campus for interviews
By: Yusra Tekbali
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
After months of searching and interviewing, the search for the next provost and executive vice president of the UA has been narrowed down to three candidates.
Meredith Hay, vice president for research at the University of Iowa, Pramod P. Khargonekar, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Florida and Robert D. Newman, dean of humanities and associate vice president for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Utah were chosen by a 27-member search committee appointed by President Robert Shelton last April.
The committee selected the three finalists from a total of 113 original nominees, according to the president's office.
Vicki Chandler, regents' professor of plant sciences, director of the BIO5 Institute and chair of the provost search committee, said while making the decision was difficult, the top three finalists really stood out.
"All three are extremely strong scholars in their field with impressive administrative expertise at major public universities," she said. "They have also demonstrated a breadth of interest and knowledge and experience beyond their own particular field."
Tommy Bruce, student body president and member of the search committee, said many students may not realize the importance of the provost position, second in command to President Shelton.
"The position affects student life on a day-to-day basis," he said. Anything that has to do with academics, advising, registration, budget - it all filters up to the provost," he said.
Each of the finalists will make a two-day visit to campus starting next week, where they will participate in an open forum addressing the UA community.
The first forum will be Tuesday, with Meredith Hay from the University of Iowa addressing the campus community. Following Hay is the Thursday forum with Pramod P. Khargonekar from the University of Florida. The last forum is Feb. 4 with Robert D. Newman from the University of Utah.
All of the forums will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Memorial Center's North Ballroom.
Meredith Hay, vice president for research at the University of Iowa, Pramod P. Khargonekar, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Florida and Robert D. Newman, dean of humanities and associate vice president for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Utah were chosen by a 27-member search committee appointed by President Robert Shelton last April.
The committee selected the three finalists from a total of 113 original nominees, according to the president's office.
Vicki Chandler, regents' professor of plant sciences, director of the BIO5 Institute and chair of the provost search committee, said while making the decision was difficult, the top three finalists really stood out.
"All three are extremely strong scholars in their field with impressive administrative expertise at major public universities," she said. "They have also demonstrated a breadth of interest and knowledge and experience beyond their own particular field."
Tommy Bruce, student body president and member of the search committee, said many students may not realize the importance of the provost position, second in command to President Shelton.
"The position affects student life on a day-to-day basis," he said. Anything that has to do with academics, advising, registration, budget - it all filters up to the provost," he said.
Each of the finalists will make a two-day visit to campus starting next week, where they will participate in an open forum addressing the UA community.
The first forum will be Tuesday, with Meredith Hay from the University of Iowa addressing the campus community. Following Hay is the Thursday forum with Pramod P. Khargonekar from the University of Florida. The last forum is Feb. 4 with Robert D. Newman from the University of Utah.
All of the forums will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Memorial Center's North Ballroom.
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