The search for the University of Michigan’s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs is officially underway.
President Mark Schlissel has appointed an 11-member search advisory committee, which he will chair. The executive search firm Korn Ferry has been retained to assist with the search.
“The University of Michigan’s greatest strength is comprehensive academic excellence across the breadth of our campus,” Schlissel said. “I look forward to working with the advisory committee and our community to identify the very best candidates with the academic credentials, vision, experience and leadership skills needed to guide our academic enterprise.”
The search is being undertaken to replace Martha E. Pollack, who is leaving the university to become president of Cornell University. She will step down as U-M provost Tuesday.
Paul N. Courant, a former U-M provost and former dean of University Libraries, will serve as interim provost until the successful candidate is in place. Courant also is a Presidential Bicentennial Professor, Harold T. Shapiro Collegiate Professor of Public Policy, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of public policy, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; professor of economics, LSA; and professor of information, School of Information.
During February, the search advisory committee will focus on outreach to the university community. An email address — provost.search.committee@umich.edu — has been established for the committee to receive community input and ideas about the desired qualities, experience and areas of focus for a new provost.
In addition to meeting with specific groups in the coming weeks, the committee will host a community town hall event Feb. 13 at the Michigan League. The session will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The president said his goal is to have the new provost installed by the beginning of the fall term.
In addition to Schlissel, members of the search advisory committee include:
• Abbas Alawieh, Master of Public Health candidate, 2017, Department of Health Management & Policy, School of Public Health; UM ’14, anthropology.
• David Brown, associate vice president and associate dean for health equity and inclusion, Michigan Medicine; associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, Medical School.
• Anne Curzan, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of English language and literature, and linguistics, and associate dean, Department of Humanities, LSA; professor of education, School of Education.
• Alec Gallimore, Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Professor of Engineering, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and professor of aerospace engineering, College of Engineering.
• S. Jack Hu, vice president for research, Office of Research; J. Reid and Polly Anderson Professor of Manufacturing, professor of mechanical engineering, and industrial and operations engineering, College of Engineering.
• Tim McKay, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of physics and astronomy, LSA; professor of education, School of Education.
• Lori Pierce, vice provost for academic and faculty affairs, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs; professor of radiation oncology, Medical School.
• Melody Racine, senior associate dean for academic, faculty and student affairs, and clinical associate professor of music, School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
• David Uhlmann, Jeffrey F. Liss Professor from Practice, and director of Environmental Law and Policy Program, Law School.
• Lynn Videka, dean and professor of social work, School of Social Work.
Ken Kring and Josh Ward will lead the search team from Korn Ferry. Liz Barry, special counsel to the president will serve as the president’s liaison to the search. Amy Riley, assistant to Barry, will provide staff support.
For information about the search, including the position description and how to submit nominations and applications, go to president.umich.edu/committees/provost-and-executive-vice-president-for-academic-affairs-search-advisory-committee/.
Further inquiries regarding nominations and applications can be directed by email to UMich-Provost@kornferry.com.
