March 3, 2008

Contact:
Liz Babiarz, 404-413-1356
University Relations

Georgia State presidential search underway

Committee seeks nominations

Georgia State’s next president should bolster the university’s reputation, continue the campus expansion, increase research capabilities, foster relationships with other institutions and strengthen international programs.

This is just a short list of the desired characteristics for the next Georgia State president offered by students, faculty, staff, deans and administrators Feb. 27 at two forums, hosted by the presidential search committee and the firm assisting in the process.

“I’m hoping the next president captures the energy and sees Georgia State as a place where there’s enormous potential to lead us to something exciting and new, and more than what we are now,” Lauren Adamson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said at the forum.

The forums were one of the first steps in the search to replace President Carl V. Patton, who announced in November he will retire this summer after 16 years with the university.

The search committee met Feb. 29 to reflect on the suggestions made by faculty and staff and fine tune what it is looking for in a candidate. Descriptions for the position will start appearing in media nationwide next week.

The search for a new campus leader is off to a running start. Already, a list of 39 nominees has been compiled, said Daniel Parker, president of Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search.

The firm’s goal is to receive 80 to 90 nominees from campus constituency and recruit 30 to 40 candidates to apply for the position. By mid-April, the search committee will start reviewing the applications and identify about 10 candidates to interview.

The committee will then recommend five unranked candidates to University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll B. Davis, who will make a recommendation to the full Board of Regents. The search firm and search committee does not have a vote in the process.

Parker said Georgia State should have a new leader by the summer. He invited faculty, staff, students and community members to submit nominations now.

“Our objective is to ensure as many people in the country know that this position is open,” Parker said. “When you are thinking about who you might know and you are reaching out to those colleagues, don’t eliminate anyone.”

All nominations should be submitted by April 14 to Parker Executive Search, Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2440, Atlanta, GA 30328. Or, e-mail lwilder@parkersearch.com or pbush@parkersearch.com.

On Feb. 5, the Board of Regents announced the presidential search committee, which is being led by Dr. William Cleveland, vice chair of the board.