The recently established Presidential Search Committee selected a search firm to help find candidates to fill the position of university president after University President Martha Burger retires at the end of the academic year.
The Presidential Search Committee was named in an email sent to the campus community on Aug. 31, which listed all of the staff members, faculty members and trustees on the committee. Paul McLaughlin, chairman of the board of trustees, created the Presidential Search Committee following Burger’s Aug. 3 email announcing her retirement.
McLaughlin sent out an email on Sept. 29 stating they found a national search firm.
“The Presidential Search Committee has selected the national search firm Spelman Johnson to assist the committee in selecting the next President of Oklahoma City University. The firm’s President, Ellen Heffernan and Practice Leader Jim Norfleet will be leading the firm’s efforts for OCU,” the email read.
According to their website, Spelman Johnson has managed over 1,500 searches for top-level cabinet positions for non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education.
“Our emphasis is on developing a broad, deep, and diverse pool of talent for our search committees to consider while providing direct communication with our clients, and facilitating a smooth and efficient delivery of services,” the website reads.
Spelman Johnson will be hosting virtual forums for students, staff and faculty to discuss what qualities the campus community would like to see in a new university president. On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the OCU Communications Office sent out an email to the campus community announcing the times the forums will take place and ways to register for the forums.
“The firm and committee are seeking input from various university stakeholders – students, faculty, staff, trustees, and alumni – as to the qualities they’d like to see in their next president. Please join us and let your voice be heard as we continue this important process,” the email read.
Patricia Ashford, political science/philosophy senior and president of Black Student Association, said she is attending both of the forums. She said she has no expectations going into the forums.
“I feel like it’s better to go into forums like this without expectations, so I’m not expecting anything to happen and then be disappointed,” Ashford said. “I can just take the results in without my own opinions and just take it as facts.”
Ashford said she wants a university president who can adjust well to campus life and communicates to the campus community.
“One thing that I feel is really important is communication, like sending out emails and to let people know what is happening on campus,” she said. “Obviously someone who is able to fundraise, as well as work well with other administration and fit in the community we have at OCU would be important.”
Ashford said students should attend these forums.
“This is an important decision for the campus. The president is the face of the university, so it is important to know who is going to be recommended as this face,” she said. “It’s important to know what’s going on in the campus community, and it’s nice to know that we can go and submit questions and kind of see how the process is going.”
The virtual forums will be 11 a.m. on Oct. 9, and 9 a.m. on Oct. 12. Students planning on attending will need to register beforehand, and if a student plans to ask a question, they will need to submit it as they are registering to join the forum. Students can register by clicking the link sent in the Oct. 7 email from the OCU Communications Office.
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