With the list of candidates narrowed down to five finalists for the presidency, the University of Idaho is only a couple of weeks from new leadership.
Jodi Walker, University of Idaho director of communications, and Mike Keckler, chief communications and legislative affairs officer for the Idaho State Board of Education, said UI should have a new president by April.
“A new president will be selected from among the five finalists. The field will not be narrowed any further,” Walker said. “The announcement will be made by the State Board of Education.”
Mike Keckler | Courtesy
Walker said the Idaho State Board of Education partnered with the search firm Storbeck Pimentel & Associates to find candidates across the country who were interested in the position.
However, Walker said the firm has no influence on the choice, which is up to the State Board.
“Only the Idaho State Board of Education members are voting members on the decision,” Walker said
Keckler said the recruitment process for candidates did not begin until a series of listening sessions were conducted on campus. Keckler said a screening committee was then appointed by State Board member Emma Atchley, who also served as committee chair.
“Once a slate of candidates was compiled, Storbeck (&) Pimentel met with the screening committee to discuss and evaluate each candidate individually,” Keckler said. “From those discussions, nine semifinalists were identified and interviewed late last month.”
Keckler said the screening committee — comprised of university stakeholders such as alumni, faculty, ASUI members and State Board members — was then responsible for narrowing the list from nine to five.
“The evaluation process centered on the interviews and then a discussion among the committee members,” Keckler said. “Each committee member shared their thoughts, and then a vote was taken on each candidate.”
Alberto Pimentel, managing partner of Storbeck Pimentel & Associates said there is no “cookie-cutter” method to finding the most suitable candidates for a university. Pimentel said well over one hundred individuals expressed interest in the presidency, with 58 individuals initially applying for the position.
“When we start a search, we start with the assumption that one size does not fit all,” Pimentel said. “That means that the process needs to be customized to an institution, and taking into account the location, the demographics, the aspiration and challenges every university is going to be very, very different from the next.”
“Not just Moscow students, frankly there was a great deal of consistency in what individuals were looking for,” Pimentel said. “Not in any order of priority, but it was clear that (UI affiliates) want someone who truly understood, embraced and could promote the mission of a land grant institution.”
Pimentel also alluded to a general consensus within the community for increase in diversity, building a more inclusive environment and a need for long-term stability for university leadership.
“Someone who is interested in the university — this university — versus someone who is interested in being the president of just a university,” Pimentel said. “Someone who is interested in a long-term commitment to the university, who will stay the course, and help develop this university.”
Andrew Ward can be reached at [email protected]