Search continues for next university presidential pick

03/12/09 - The field of candidates in the search for the next president of the University of Rhode Island has been narrowed down to less than 10.Search committee members said the current number of candidates is somewhere between 10 and six, but declined to give a specific number.

Search committee president Tom Ryan said the group represents a nice mix of candidates.

"I think it's a great cadre of candidates," he said. "They have unique experiences, whether it's the size of the school or their area of expertise, and it's a fairly diverse group of candidates also."

Candidates showed a variety of different strengths, including backgrounds in research, finance and educational planning, Ryan said.

Ryan, a URI alumnus and president and CEO of CVS Caremark is a longtime benefactor of the university.

Ryan was appointed to head the 15-member committee after URI President Robert L. Carothers announced in September that he would end his 18-year tenure as president in June 2009.

Other committee members include Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn, URI senior Brandon Brown and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Winifred Brownell.

The current candidates were selected from an original pool of 25 to 30 candidates provided through Isaacson-Miller, an executive search firm specializing in non-profit organizations and public agencies.

The cost of the firm accounts for the majority of the $150,000 to $175,000 budgeted for the search, said Commissioner of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education (RIBGHE) Jack Warner.

The semi-finalists in the search will soon be flown in to be interviewed by the search committee, Warner said, and will be narrowed down to approximately three.

These three will then be reviewed by the RIBGHE as a whole, Warner said, and the board hopes to announce a final choice at its May 11 meeting.

The university community will also have an opportunity to interact with candidates prior to the final selection through a series of public forums in April, said Student Representative Brandon Brown.

As far as direct student input in the selection process, Brown said he does his best to represent the interests of the student body.

"I really consider my role very strictly and significantly to be an accurate and comprehensive reflection of the student voices on campus," Brown said. "People might even recognize me just from the awkwardness of walking up to them and asking them for their opinion on a particular issue."

The board's final choice to lead the university will have to be able to raise funds and have experience both in teaching and academic administration, as well as demonstrate the ability to innovate.

"This individual needs to be able to really think big and harness the resources that we have and, in my mind, communicate an innovative new five to 10-year vision for the university because it's going to change from how we know it today," he said.

Brown stressed the importance of Carothers' contribution to the university and said that it will be sad when he leaves.

"He's done a great service to the community," Brown said. "Really, this institution would be nowhere near where it is right now had Carothers not committed 18 years of his life to seeing it become this way.