The Metropolitan State University of Denver Provost Search Committee has successfully completed the first round of candidate reviews and is conducting virtual interviews with 13 highly qualified semifinalists out of a competitive pool of nearly 100 applicants.
The search committee, co-chaired by Rosemarie Allen, Ed.D., and Samuel Jay, Ph.D., and consisting of representatives from the faculty, staff, students and administration, has been working diligently since mid-August to identify a dynamic leader who will play a pivotal role in advancing the University’s mission while energizing and informing the deployment of MSU Denver’s 2030 Strategic Plan.
Following the completion of semifinalist interviews, the committee will recommend up to five finalists to President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. The committee will conduct an additional round of rigorous interviews with the finalists to gain deeper insights into their qualifications, leadership styles and vision for MSU Denver.
These interviews will play a pivotal role in the selection of one candidate whose name will be recommended to the president and the Board of Trustees, who will make the ultimate decision on who is hired to fill the positions of provost and executive vice president. Once selected, this single finalist will be invited to campus for meetings with fellow senior leaders, deans, assistant vice presidents, chairs and faculty and staff members.
A commitment to confidentiality has been central to the committee’s work throughout the search process, as such confidentiality is integral to the recruitment and subsequent review of the highest-quality candidates.
To best balance this commitment with the equally important attentiveness to shared governance, the Provost Search Committee has been composed of representatives from the faculty, staff and administration. These members have been charged with bringing the perspectives of their constituents to the committee’s deliberations. Thus, the decision to have the next round of interviews remain “closed” is being taken to ensure that the voices of those from across campus are brought fully and most reliably to the committee’s deliberations while giving equal respect to the privacy of finalists.
“It is vital to ensure that the final interviews for our future provost be conducted confidentially to safeguard the integrity of the selection process and privacy of potential candidates,” said Davidson. “It is only through this commitment to confidentiality for our prospective candidates that we can truly identify the best individual to lead our academic institution forward while fostering an environment of academic excellence, innovation and inclusivity.”
As the search continues, the committee will continue to keep the MSU Denver community informed. For more information, please visit the Provost Search 2023 website. Questions and feedback from the campus community are welcomed and can be directed to your division or unit’s representative on the search committee.