The search for UM-Dearborn’s seventh chancellor kicked off last week with the announcement of a search firm and U-M President Domenico Grasso’s appointment of a search advisory committee, as well as details on an extensive campus input process. Integral to that process will be a series of town halls for faculty, staff and students to be held Nov. 17, 18 and 19, both in person and online. “We want to hear what the campus wants in the next leader,” says Interim Provost Ghassan Kridli who, along with UM-Flint Chancellor Laurence Alexander, is serving as co-chair of the search advisory committee. “The town halls will provide valuable feedback to the search advisory committee as we vet the candidates, go through CVs and then interview them.”
In addition to the town halls, which are open to the entire campus community, the search firm — Russell Reynolds Associates — will host listening sessions with a wide variety of campus constituents drawn from administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni and external partners. “Everybody has a vision. This is such an important position that shapes the future of the campus. We really want to hear from as many people as we can,” Kridli explains. Nominations and feedback can also be shared by emailing [email protected] or via a stakeholder survey.
Kridli stresses that the town halls and other meetings are designed not only to share what qualities participants hope to see in a new chancellor but what attributes of UM-Dearborn should be highlighted for prospective candidates. “We’re interested not just in what the campus community would like to see in the chancellor, but what they feel is great about the unit or department or program they represent that can help promote the position,” he says.
Candidates will look far beyond the job posting and the university’s home page as they research this position, Kridli points out, so this is an excellent time to refresh web pages and other communications materials. “A chancellor search is a perfect opportunity to make sure college, department, unit and even individual faculty web pages are accurate and up to date,” he says. “This is always important, of course, but we know there will be extra attention on UM-Dearborn right now. It’s important to give candidates the most accurate and thorough picture of who we are.”
The three town halls will take place on:
Nov. 17
1:30-2:30 p.m.
1500 Social Sciences Building
Nov. 18
1:30-2:20 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
Nov. 19
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
RSVP for the town halls. More information is available on the chancellor search website.
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Story by Kristin Palm
