October 7, 2009 -- Search for Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs

Colleagues:

As you know, last spring we conducted a search to fill the position of Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs. The search committee did a superb job of identifying strong candidates, but in the end we decided to begin the search again this fall.

We were able to make this choice because we had a very strong colleague who was willing to serve in an interim capacity. There is, in my opinion, no more difficult position to fill than that of being “interim anything,” and, as Interim Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs, Kathy Wetherell has already served us with great energy, leadership, and effectiveness. During this critical period of transition in our business and finance practices, I am very grateful that Kathy has agreed to continue in this position until we fill it permanently. I know that she has the strong support of everyone on campus and I am confident that our Business and Financial Affairs are in very capable hands.

I have asked Vice President Eileen Coughlin to chair the search committee for the Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs. Vice President Coughlin is an established and outstanding leader who understands our university very well. She and I will be widely consulting before completing the membership of the search committee. I know, as we move forward, that the search committee will seek the wisdom of the entire campus as they perfect the position description, recruit, and consider candidates.

My best,

Bruce