The University of Michigan’s next president must lead with integrity, work hard to rebuild trust within the community and take steps to redress past instances of sexual misconduct at the university.
That was the feedback delivered time and again by faculty, students, staff and alumni who attended virtual listening sessions last month in conjunction with the university’s search for a new president, according to search committee leaders. An online survey collected additional thoughts from more than 1,000 respondents.
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Common leadership priorities cited by listening session and survey participants included a commitment to carbon neutrality and climate justice goals, and a plan of action for diversity, equity and inclusion across the university’s three campuses.
Others included support for research funding and the university’s interdisciplinary infrastructure, as well as dedication to the success of the entire Michigan community — students, faculty and staff.
Regents Sarah Hubbard and Denise Ilitch, who also serve as co-chairs of the Presidential Search Committee, shared a summary of community feedback and an update on the search process during the March 24 Board of Regents meeting.
“On behalf of my co-chair, Regent Hubbard, as well as the entire Board of Regents, I want to say how grateful we are for the outpouring of community engagement and feedback we’ve received since the beginning of this presidential search process,” Ilitch said.
“We appreciate everyone’s candor and input,” she said. “We have heard it — and you — and as the committee and our search consultants begin the work of identifying and reviewing candidates, we look forward to sharing news of an appointment over the summer.”
President Mary Sue Coleman has served as president since the board removed former president Mark Schlissel on Jan. 15, and she has agreed to continue in that capacity until a new president is selected.
The Presidential Search Committee — 18 faculty, staff, students and alumni from across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses and the health system, as well as the regents — hosted six virtual listening sessions throughout February for different segments of the university community, including Michigan Medicine and students, staff and faculty on all three campuses.
The Board of Regents meeting served as a final public listening session for members of the community to share their thoughts on the university’s next leaders. Ilitch said the search committee will incorporate all feedback into a position profile, which will be posted publicly next week and shared with potential candidates.
Prior to the final listening session, Hubbard gave brief instructions, asking speakers to focus their comments on answering two questions: “During the next three to five years, what priorities should the new president set to be successful?” and “What background, qualifications and experience should the next president possess to be successful in advancing the university mission?”
“We really appreciate you coming in to tell us your thoughts,” Hubbard said.
The three speakers who participated included Law School students Riyah Basha and Hafsa Tout, who urged the committee to consider a president who was more open to the idea of the university divesting its endowment from Israeli companies.
Basha compared such a move with the university’s decision earlier this month to make no further investments in Russia and move as quickly as is practical to exit its remaining investments in the country.
“I am looking for a president who will avoid the silence and hypocrisy of past administrations,” she said.
Tout added: “I want to see a president who is true to the promise of listening to students, a president that can respond to campus culture and things that happen on this campus that affect students.”
A final speaker, U-M alumnus Daniel Ouellette, said the “diversity, equity and inclusion industry has taken root” at the university and urged search committee members to focus on excellence rather than “the cosmetic traits of a candidate.”
The search process will continue confidentially as the committee works closely with the search firm Isaacson, Miller to review candidates and conduct interviews.
Regents, who are responsible for selecting the university’s executive leader under the state constitution, have said they hope to hire U-M’s 15th president as early as this summer.
