01/16/15 ks local, area

HAYS, Kan. -- The national search to find a new provost for Fort Hays State University has been narrowed to five finalists, who will soon visit the Hays campus.

FHSU is organized into three divisions: Student Affairs; Administration and Finance; and Academic Affairs. The provost, as chief academic officer, leads the Division of Academic Affairs.

Dr. Larry Gould stepped down as provost in October 2013 to return to the classroom. Dr. Chris Crawford, who had served as assistant provost for 10 years, was immediately named interim provost.

The finalists:

• Dr. Graham Glynn, vice provost and executive dean of college wide programs, Mercy College, New York City;
• Dr. Cynthia Pemberton, deputy provost, University of Missouri -- Kansas City;
• Dr. John P. Ronnau, dean, College of Health Sciences & Human Services, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, Texas;
• Dr. Gersham Nelson, dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg; and
• Dr. John Ryder, vice president for academic affairs and provost, American University of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

"The provost is a vital part of the administration team," said Dr. Mirta M. Martin, FHSU president. "We are seeking a visionary academic leader who can enhance our stature as an innovative university that supports our current exceptional faculty and attracts new faculty of excellence. The provost is one of the key players in developing academic programs of distinction to make Fort Hays State a destination of choice."

President Martin thanked the search committee for its work thus far and said the most important work remains: selecting the best person for Fort Hays State from among the outstanding slate of finalists. "This is a very special place, and in addition to choosing a provost who has the proper credentials and the right skill set, we want our new provost to be someone who embraces and is embraced by the Tiger family."

Dr. Mark Bannister, chair of the search committee and dean of FHSU's College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said the committee was pleased with the candidate pool. "This search reflects FHSU's growing stature in higher education," he said, "because the search attracted quality candidates from universities across America and abroad."

President Martin and the search committee believe it is important to share the application letters and curricula vitae of the finalists with faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends well in advance of the campus interviews so that people can become familiar with their characteristics, backgrounds and accomplishments. Toward that end, a website has been created to provide information about the finalists: http://www.fhsu.edu/provost-search

The schedules for the campus visits have been designed for different groups. Faculty leadership will receive invitations to meetings with the finalists. A time has been set for students to meet with the finalists. There will be open forums in which everyone, including the general public, is welcome to meet with the finalists. And, a time has been set for only media representatives to meet with each of the finalists.

Each finalist's Open Campus Forum will be recorded. Links to the videos of the forums will be posted simultaneously on the provost search website late on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 28, after the last finalist has presented.

Dr. Graham Glynn

• Faculty Leaders -- 11 to 11:50 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union
• Students -- 1 to 1:50 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Trails Room, Memorial Union
• Campus Open Forum -- 2 to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Fort Hays Ballroom, Memorial Union
• Media Interview -- 3:10 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union

Dr. Cynthia Pemberton

• Faculty Leaders -- 5 to 5:50 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union
• Students -- 9 to 9:50 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union
• Campus Open Forum -- 4 to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Fort Hays Ballroom, Memorial Union
• Media Interview -- 3:40 to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union

Dr. John P. Ronnau

• Faculty Leaders -- 11 to 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Black and Gold Room, Memorial Union
• Students -- 1 to 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Trails Room, Memorial Union
• Campus Open Forum -- 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Fort Hays Ballroom, Memorial Union
• Media Interview -- 3:10 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Smoky Hill Room, Memorial Union

Dr. Gersham Nelson

• Faculty Leaders -- 1 to 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Black and Gold Room, Memorial Union
• Students -- 9 to 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union
• Campus Open Forum -- 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Fort Hays Ballroom, Memorial Union
• Media Interview -- 3:30 to 3:50 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Smoky Hill Room, Memorial Union

Dr. John Ryder

• Faculty Leaders -- 11 to 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, Pioneer Room, Memorial Union
• Students -- 1 to 1:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, Eagle Communication Hall, Robbins Center
• Campus Open Forum -- 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, Eagle Communication Hall, Robbins Center
• Media Interview -- 3:10 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, Upper Conference Room, Robbins Center

Following the campus visits, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends can post their thoughts and recommendations about the finalists through a survey that will be available on the provost search website.

In addition to Bannister, the members of the search committee are Dr. Paul Faber, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Deborah Ludwig, dean of Forsyth Library; Brenda Hoopingarner, chair of the Department of Allied Health; Dr. Michael Meade, associate professor of English; Dr. Eric Deyo, assistant professor of physics and president of the Faculty Senate; Linn Ann Huntington, professor of communication studies and president of the FHSU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors; Arin Powers, a Woodward, Okla., junior and president of the Student Government Association; Dr. Keegan Nichols, assistant vice president for student affairs; Debra Prideaux, director of governmental relations and the FHSU Alumni Association; and Dr. Matt Means, assistant professor of music and theatre and director of the Honors College.