Now that interviews have been set up for the finalists for the president of the University of Tennessee system, I hope that you will make plans to attend the open sessions or watch them online.
It is important that the individuals on the presidential search advisory and primary search committees hear from faculty, staff and students about the candidates and there are several ways to share your thoughts.
Each candidate will participate in a public forum in the Shiloh Room in the University Center on Oct. 12 and 13. You can also view the sessions via live webcast. Archives of the interviews will also be on the same site, www.tennessee.edu.
Tuesday, Oct. 12
• Craig Fitzhugh, chairman and CEO of the Bank of Ripley and state representative, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
• Jerry Askew, senior vice president for external relations, Mercy Health Partners, 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Joe DiPietro, chancellor, UT Institute of Agriculture 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 13
• Robert McGrath, consultant for Battelle Memorial Institute 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
• Brian Noland, chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The Search Advisory Council is appointed by the Presidential Search Committee to provide advice and guidance. Our campus representatives are:
Tommy Jervis, student and president of Student Government Association, sga1@utk.edu.
Joan Heminway, law professor and Faculty Senate president, jheminwa@tennessee.edu.
Vern Granger, assistant dean and director of undergraduate admissions, lgrange3@utk.edu.
The Presidential Search Committee will recommend finalists to the Board of Trustees. Matt Murray, professor of economics and associate director of the Center for Business & Economic Research, mmurray1@utk.edu, represents the campus.
You can also share your thoughts with both committees at http://president.tennessee.edu/search/feedback.html.
Interviews will continue next week, leading up the UT Board of Trustees meeting set for Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 in Knoxville. Trustees will consider the finalists at the full board meeting.
For more information go to http://president.tennessee.edu/search.