Committee to search across nation for next univ. provost

The university launched a national search yesterday to fill its second-highest administrative position, and officials said they will seek out provost candidates suited for the challenge of overcoming persisting budget constraints to move the university forward.

Over the past year, the university has launched several administrative searches — including deans and vice presidents — but several officials said yesterday the search for the next senior vice president and provost was the most critical. As the university's chief academic officer overseeing all 12 colleges on campus, the provost is also charged with implementing the university's 10-year Strategic Plan and balancing the university budget.

Yesterday, university President Wallace Loh the university's budget.

Yesterday, university President Wallace Loh announced specifics on the 23-person search committee charged with finding the successor of current Provost Ann Wylie, who began this position in March and will continue until July 2012. According to criminal justice and criminology professor Gary LaFree, who will chair the committee, members will work with an executive search firm — set to be announced in the next few weeks — and will start reviewing applications Dec. 1. Because it is such a crucial position, committee members will act quickly while emphasizing quality over speed in the search, he said.

"We're in a way like a city — a small and complicated city. We're a combination of a city and a large business," said LaFree. "We want someone who will bring prestige and honor to this research institution and who has strong academic values and [is] strongly interested in keeping the educational progress going."

But the biggest hurdle the provost will have to face is the university's ever tightening budget, and several officials noted administrators will look to Wylie's successor to lead them through the bleak economic climate. As the state prepares to face an estimated $1 billion budget deficit while federal higher education funding remains constricted, the university will have to rely on itself more and more to secure enough money to advance, officials said.

"Budget is always a challenge in keeping the university moving forward," said search committee Vice Chair and geology professor Roberta Rudnick.

However, several officials said the next provost will be well-positioned to continue the university's upward trajectory.

"This campus has been improving so much since I've been here," said Vice President for Student Affairs Warren Kelley, who sits on the committee. "Ann Wylie had done a great job in her time in the role, we have tremendous leadership from Dr. Loh. So, I certainly think we're positioned at a place where getting a new university provost to continue to move forward is a tremendous opportunity."

Student Government Association Chief of Staff Steven Hershkowitz, who will be the committee's undergraduate representative, said he is looking forward to speaking with Wylie, student leaders and other members of the campus community to understand the needs of the university as a whole.

"This will help me understand what would make the best candidate who can best serve the students and their education," he said.

Wylie could not be reached for comment last night.

villanueva@umdbk.com