Process Continues in Search for New SOSU President
Press Release Date: 01-25-2007
The process of selecting a new president at Southeastern Oklahoma State University continues to move forward.
Dr. Glen D. Johnson, who served as Southeastern president for the past 9 ½ years, assumed his new duties as the Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education on Jan. 17. Dr. Jesse Snowden is currently serving as Interim President at Southeastern.
The Southeastern Oklahoma State University Presidential Search Committee, under the authority of the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO), is conducting a search for the next president. The Committee held public meetings on Tuesday for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community and friends to receive input and advice from all campus constituencies.
RUSO Board of Regent Ann Holloway, who chairs the search committee, said the input of all university stakeholders is important as the search process continues.
“We truly appreciate the hard work of the faculty and staff at Southeastern and the community has also been very supportive of the University,” said Regent Holloway. “We certainly want to provide an opportunity to hear their voices as we move forward.”
In addition, a 22-member SOSU Presidential Search Advisory Committee, comprised of RUSO regents, SOSU administrators, faculty and staff, and community members, has been appointed to advise RUSO during the process.
Members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee include Regent Holloway, Regent Harold Jackson, Regent Richard Ryerson, and Regent Mickey Thompson; SOSU vice presidents Ross Walkup and Sharon Robinson; SOSU faculty members Dr. Ken Elder, Dr. Theresa Hrncir, Dr. Jerry Polson, and Dr. Lucretia Scoufos; SOSU human resources director Cathy Conway; SOSU Student Government President Mike Davis; and community members/alumni Don Carpenter, Johnny McFatridge, Greg Massey, Dr. Terry James, Chuck Darby, Mark Cunningham, Chief Greg Pyle, Dr. Amanda Cobb, Jim Caudle, and Kathy Keithley.
At Tuesday’s public meetings, Regent Holloway offered a working timeline for the search, noting that the position will continue to be advertised through Jan. 31. She said the full (search and search advisory) committee will meet in early February to review applications and narrow the list down to approximately 20 candidates; the committee will meet again later in February to narrow the list to 5—10 applicants; and in March, interviews will begin for finalists. A final decision could be announced as early as mid-April, according to Regent Holloway.
The nine-member RUSO board governs the following regional institutions: Southeastern Oklahoma State University, East Central University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma.