A new search for Boise State University’s next president is moving forward with the selection of a local screening committee.
On Monday, State Board of Education President Linda Clark announced the formation of the 14-person committee. The committee includes BSU faculty and staff members, a BSU student and several community members. Its job is to interview and vet candidates and recommend a list of finalists to the State Board of Education.
“This screening committee is a solid and diverse group representing various Boise State stakeholders,” Clark said in a written statement. “I look forward to working with them throughout the process as we seek a strong leader who can build on Boise State’s momentum.”
This marks the second search for a new BSU president in less than one year. In November 2017, former President Bob Kustra announced his plans to retire after the 2017-18 school year.
After Kustra’s announcement, the State Board signed a contact with the national consulting firm AGB Search to find Kustra’s replacement. AGB produced a field of 53 candidates that was narrowed to three finalists. However, on May 17, the State Board voted to discontinue that search without hiring any of the finalists.
The State Board then named longtime BSU administrator Martin Schimpf as interim president while the university geared up for another new presidential search.
The latest presidential search officially kicked off in September when the State Board announced that it had contracted with a different consulting firm, Storbeck Pimentel and Associates, to conduct the current BSU search.
Consultants with Storbeck Pimentel will appear on campus next week for a series of “listening sessions” with BSU students, faculty, alumni and staff. The screening committee will meet at the conclusion of those listening sessions, according to the State Board.
Boise State presidential search listening sessions for faculty members kick off at 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Student Union Building, while a listening session for students kicks off at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 30, also in the SUB.
BSU’s search marks the second active high-profile president’s search underway in Idaho. Storbeck Pimentel has also contracted with University of Idaho’s presidential search.
State Board officials have said they hope to name both new presidents in early 2019 and have both of those individuals hired and on the job by July 1.
Only the State Board of Education has the power to hire university presidents in Idaho.
Updates about the Boise State search will be posted on the university’s website.
BSU search committee members:
- Linda Clark, State Board of Education president
- David Hill, State Board member
- Andrew Scoggin, State Board member
- Kaleb Smith, ASBSU student body president
- Tony Roark, Boise State interim provost
- Martin Orr, Boise State faculty senate president
- Alicia Garza, Boise State faculty member
- Zeynep Hansen, Boise State faculty member
- Tana Monroe, Boise State professional staff
- Ramona Martin, Boise State classified staff
- Barbara Morgan, former Boise State Distinguished Educator in Residence and NASA astronaut
- Dee Mooney, Micron Foundation
- Rob Perez, First Interstate Bank
- Rod Lewis, former State Board member
