The Southern University Presidential Search committee met Thursday to hear reports from the consultants of DHR International on system presidential candidates. DHR International has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 40 offices spanning the globe.
Board Member Walter Dumas, before departing to handle a pressing issue, expressed to the committee that they should take into consideration the fact whether or not each candidate has at least read the Postsecondary Education Review Commission bill.
“My feelings are that if you haven’t read the Tucker Commission, then I’m at a loss with you,” said Dumas before exiting the conference room.
Many other board members felt that just reading the bill isn’t enough to make a candidate qualified to become system president.
“To just have read the Tucker Commission is sort of irrelevant to me, whether they can lead us to the environment that it outlines is much more important,” said board member Adam Knapp.
Thirteen candidates have completed their application and designated that their names be brought in front of the board for evaluation to determine whether or not they should continue in the pursuit of the presidency. Each candidate has submitted a full application consistent with the requirements published through the search committee’s website as well as other media outlets.
These thirteen candidates include:
· Adesoji Adelaja, Ph. D; John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy, Michigan State University
· Belinda Childress Anderson, Ed. D; former president, Virginia Union University
· Mohammad A. Bhuiyan, Ph. D; Director and Endowed Prof. of Entrepreneurship, Fayetteville State University
· Charles A. Green; retired president, Bermuda College
· Leonard L Haynes III, Ph. D; Senior Advisor of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
· Robert R. Jennings, Ed. D; Partner, GEM Learning Academy
· Gerald D. “Jerry” Jensen, JD; President and CEO, Siskin Children’s Institute
· Carolyn W. Meyers, Ph. D; President, Norfolk State University
· Roosevelt Newson Jr.; Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Bowie State University
· Kenneth Reeves; Vice President, Vice President of Human Resources, Textron Inc.
· Kevin U. Stephens Sr. MD, JD; director, City of New Orleans Health Department
· Karl S. Wright, Ph. D; former president, Florida Memorial University
· Marvin L. Yates, Ph. D; Vice President of Academic Affairs, Southeastern Louisiana University
Degree qualifications were also brought into question, a few candidates did not meet the preferred degree specifications. The board did decide that although a doctoral degree was preferred they are however not required.
Due to the absence of a few board members, the concern about completing the evaluation of the candidates was an important factor to the consultants. Robert Clayton pushed that the board members find a way to complete their evaluations by the end of business today so that they can stay on what he called an “aggressive timeline.”
“We want to be in position by Monday to give back to you all considered to be the most favorable candidate,” said Clayton. “If there are those who can not complete by close of business Friday so be it but Monday we are going to give you the benefits of our deliberations, you have got to stay on your aggressive timeline.”
According to Co-Chair Domoine Rutledge the committee has been challenged to narrow the number of candidates down to about 3 to 4 names to send to the Board of Supervisors who will Ultimately choose the next system president.
When asked whether or not student opinions would be involved in the process Rutledge stated “I think it would be appropriate when we got that close to a decision that there should be some sort of student forum where they as well as others could come ask questions.”
These meetings are always open to the public to come sit in and give their input on this situation.