Board of Regents to consider potential finalists in presidential search

The Board will discuss de-identified candidates before voting to name finalists to be invited for public interviews

The Board of Regents will consider potential finalists during its meeting next week as part of its search for the 18th President of the University of Minnesota. 

As the Board sought to attract a broad and diverse pool of the highest quality candidates, it also emphasized the value of community engagement throughout the search process. This was part of its charge to the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and WittKieffer, an executive search firm specializing in higher education and nonprofit leadership hires. 

“From the call for nominations to the search committee, initial public listening sessions held across the state and feedback received on the presidential search website, we have all worked together on this important endeavor,” said Board Chair Janie Mayeron. “I am proud of our thorough and thoughtful process, the strong interest in this important leadership role and our community’s continued engagement as we identify the right leader to build on the momentum of the University’s service to our students and all Minnesotans.“

After evaluating a talented pool of 46 candidates and interviewing 12 individuals, the Presidential Search Advisory Committee unanimously recommended four lead candidates to the full Board. The applicant pool was 89% men, 11% women and 39% people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The Board will consider the lead candidates on Friday, February 9. In accordance with state law, candidate identities will remain confidential during the discussion and will be named if they are selected as finalists to be invited for interviews. 

Finalists will go on to meet with community members in a series of public forums at each of the University’s five campuses and interview with the Board. Throughout the search process, the Board has emphasized the importance of collecting input from all members of the University community and others across the state who are invested in or connected to the U of M. The forums will provide an opportunity for the Board to hear feedback about finalists before it interviews them and begins deliberations. 

Updates about the search and future engagement opportunities — expected to begin the week of February 12 — will be available on the Board’s Presidential Search website. Input may also be provided directly to the Board at any time on the presidential search or any other topic through the recently launched Virtual Forum.

As part of its February meetings, the Board is also expected to: 

• Review completed external audit work and the fiscal 2024 plan with University Controller Mollie Viola.
• Discuss the Governor’s Task Force on Academic Health at the University of Minnesota with Regent Penny Wheeler, Interim President Jeff Ettinger and Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Dean of the Medical School Jakub Tolar.
• Receive an update on Higher Learning Commission Accreditation for the Rochester and Twin Cities Campuses from Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Croson; Erin Slattengren, accreditation liaison officer; and Robert McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education.
• Act on amendments to the University’s supplemental fiscal 2025 State budget request. 
• Review Board of Regents Policy: Reservation and Delegation of Authority.
• Act on the University performance and accountability report with Interim President Jeff Ettinger and Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Croson.

For more information, including future meeting times, visit regents.umn.edu.