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February 18, 2020

Dear Members of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Community:

In keeping with my Jan. 23 message regarding key leadership transitions, I am pleased to announce that we are launching the national search for Kent State’s next senior vice president and provost. My thanks to Dr. Pam Grimm and members of the Committee on Administrative Officers, the Regional Campuses Faculty Advisory Council, the Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate Student Senate for working diligently to select their representatives for this important search committee. The position of provost is critical to our university’s success and provides instrumental leadership to ensure that we achieve, nurture and advance our commitment to student success and academic excellence.

Dr. Paul DiCorleto, vice president for research and sponsored programs, will chair the search committee. I am grateful to Dr. DiCorleto and all of the members of the search committee for their willingness to assist in recruiting an outstanding individual for this important role.

We have secured the services of AGB Search to assist in this process. AGB Search is one of the leading executive search firms with its entire practice dedicated to higher education. Dr. Melissa Trotta, associate managing principal, and Ellen Meyer, executive search consultant, will serve as the lead consultants from the firm working on this search. AGB Search was selected from among nine firms responding to the university’s request for proposals. The company has recruited more than 70 chief academic officers and most recently assisted Kent State in our highly successful searches for the directors of the Fashion School and the School of Music.

Committee Seeks Input From Kent State Community
The search committee is reaching out to the Kent State community to solicit feedback on issues and opportunities facing the university and the qualities we should seek in our next provost. This process will continue throughout the spring semester. Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend open forums this week to offer suggestions and perspectives:

• Open Session – Wednesday, Feb. 19, 4-5 p.m., Room 334, University Library 
• Faculty Session – Thursday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m.-noon, Room 334, University Library
• Open Session – Thursday, Feb. 20, 3-4 p.m., Room 334, University Library

Members of the university community also may complete an  to share their thoughts on the opportunities, challenges, characteristics and qualifications for the next provost. The search committee will launch a website soon to keep the community informed of its progress. We anticipate an appointment will be made by the end of the spring semester.  

For more information on the search, visit /president/provost-search.

Sincerely,
Todd Diacon
President