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YSU provost search will wait for president
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
The search for a new Youngstown State University provost is on hold until the fall to allow the new president to get acclimated and familiarized with what the faculty would like to see in that position.
“The committee looked at the variables, and we thought for an individual to come on board, it would kind of be like throwing darts at a dartboard,” said Carole Weimer, the YSU trustee who sits on the provost-search committee. “There really wouldn’t be time for the new president to get a good feel for what the faculty wants.”
Jim Tressel takes office as YSU’s ninth president July 1. During his visits to campus during the selection process, he said that the selection of a provost, who is the university’s chief academic officer, needs to involve all university stakeholders — faculty, administrators, staff and others.
Ikram Khawaja, who has been provost/vice president for academic affairs for several years, was appointed interim president in March after Randy J. Dunn resigned the presidency after only eight months to take the same job at Southern Illinois University.
Khawaja, who has been at YSU since 1968, plans to retire June 30.
Teresa Riley has been appointed interim provost. She is expected to remain in that role until Khawaja’s replacement is selected.
Chet Cooper, a biology professor and president of the Academic Senate, is chairman of the provost search committee. He expects finalists for the position to visit the campus in October.
Weimer believes the revised schedule also puts the university in a better position in seeking applicants.
“We’d love to see someone come on board by January, but it depends on the institution where they are,” she added.