The University of Michigan is launching a search for the next chancellor of UM-Dearborn.
President Domenico Grasso has appointed a search advisory committee to assist him in this search process. Laurence Alexander, chancellor for UM-Flint, and Ghassan Kridli, interim provost at UM-Dearborn, will serve as committee co-chairs.
Learn more about UM-DEarborn
“This leadership transition is an important milestone for our university, as we continue to shape the future direction of the Dearborn campus based on their GoBLUEprint for Success strategic plan,” Grasso said. “I am confident the nationwide search will result in a strong leader who will continue to advance the momentum in Dearborn.”
The search seeks to replace Grasso, who served more than seven years as chancellor before being appointed president on an interim basis last May. Grasso has said he intends to retire at the end of his interim role and will not return to Dearborn as chancellor. Gabriella Scarlatta, the provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at UM-Dearborn, is currently serving as interim chancellor of the Dearborn campus.
The search process will begin this month with a series of campus town halls hosted by the search advisory committee from Nov. 17-19. Details on the town halls will be announced soon.
The committee also plans to meet with select groups in the coming weeks to receive input about the desired qualities, experience and areas of focus for the new chancellor. Nominations and additional ideas and feedback on the search may be emailed to [email protected]. For more information, visit the chancellor search web page.
“The committee will be looking for constructive input on the opportunities and the challenges for the next chancellor,” Kridli said. “The community’s input will be a key component of developing the desired profile of our next campus leader.”
“Dearborn and Flint both serve outstanding students and have great impact in their communities,” Alexander said. “We are seeking candidates for the Dearborn chancellor search who understand and appreciate the significant role a regional campus plays in powering our state’s economy.”
As with other searches for the university’s executive officers, the selection process will remain confidential.
The university executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates has been retained to assist in the effort, and consultants Jett Pihakis, Joi Hayes-Scott and Zach Messitte will assist with the search. Keisha Blevins, deputy chief of staff and senior HR adviser for the Office of the President, will serve as the president’s liaison to the search.
In addition to Alexander and Kridli, members of the search advisory committee include:
- Georges Ayoub, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, UM-Dearborn.
- Maya Barak, associate professor of criminal justice studies, College-Wide Programs, College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, UM-Dearborn.
- Dagmar Budikova, dean, and professor of geography, College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, UM-Dearborn.
- Chris Burke, professor of science education, College of Education, Health and Human Services, UM-Dearborn.
- Rich Durant, ITS operations manager, chair of Staff Senate, UM-Dearborn.
- Amy Finley, dean of students, UM-Dearborn.
- Ivy Forsythe-Brown, associate professor of sociology and anthropology, College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, UM-Dearborn.
- Yi Maggie Guo, professor of management studies, UM-Dearborn.
- Marc Howze, alumni member, retired group president & chief administrative officer, John Deere, and current corporate director.
- Ken Kettenbeil, senior adviser to the president, vice chancellor for external relations, UM-Dearborn.
- Patricia Mooradian, president and chief executive officer, The Henry Ford.
- Mark Radosevich, lecturer IV in mathematics and statistics, College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, UM-Dearborn.
- Carrie Shumaker, vice chancellor for information technology and chief strategy officer, Office of Information Technology, UM-Dearborn.
- Jakub Wittrock, student, College of Engineering & Computer Science, UM-Dearborn.
