Over the summer, I sent an email to you describing a proposed process for the search for the new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. I advised that Dean Alex Chigogidze and Dr. Jessica Kozloff, our search consultant, would be meeting with many campus constituents to develop a list of attributes that will be used to evaluate candidates and to receive thoughts and recommendations about the composition of the search committee.

Last week, Dean Chigogidze and Dr. Kozloff met with faculty groups, governance groups, and faculty and staff at two town hall meetings. Based upon the feedback we received, I have already decided to accept one major recommendation. I am appointing Dr. Christina Tortora, Professor of Linguistics in the English Department, to serve as co-chair of the search committee with Dean Chigogidze.

I will be meeting with the co-chairs shortly to review all of the feedback and recommendations from the campus consultations and finalize the composition of the search committee.

Dr. Kozloff will be returning to campus on October 7 and, along with the search committee co-chairs, will meet with the search committee and continue consultation with campus constituents.