WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 14, 2020 — West Liberty University’s Presidential Search Committee will introduce the two final candidates for president to the campus community during the next two weeks.
The Presidential Search process was delayed on March 23 due to Gov. Jim Justice’s Stay at Home order.
“Because of the pandemic, our Presidential Search was delayed but we are now in a position to welcome the two final candidates to campus where they will meet with the entire search committee, as well as staff, students and faculty,” said Committee Chairman Rich Lucas.
All meet-the-candidate gatherings will take place in Kelly Theater, which allows for social distancing to be observed. Face masks also are required in all campus buildings.
All meetings with faculty, staff, students and the open meeting will be available on Zoom for those who are working remotely. Additionally, these meetings will be available via Topper Station on demand for those who wish to view them later.
Candidate visits begin on Aug. 19 and 20 when Dr. Brian Crawford of Wheeling interviews.
Crawford is an internal candidate and has worked at WLU for more than 20 years in several capacities, including serving as acting president for three months in 2014. Currently the provost, Crawford is the former dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
Dr. Robert Colvin will visit campus on Aug. 24 and 25. A resident of Virginia, he has spent 21 years in higher education, both as a faculty member and administrator. He is vice provost for undergraduate education at Christopher Newport University, a public liberal arts university in Newport News, Va.
Open meetings for the public to meet the candidates take place at 11 a.m., Aug. 20 for Crawford and at 11 a.m. Aug. 25 for Colvin, both in Kelly Theater.
After the candidates visit campus and meet with alumni, staff, students and faculty, the search committee will evaluate the campus interviews and offer their choice to the Board of Governors, which makes the final selection.
An announcement is expected on that selection by the end of August.
President Stephen Greiner announced his June 30, 2020 planned retirement in November 2019 but agreed to stay on due to the pandemic at the request of the Board of Governors.
Two of the final candidates announced in March withdrew from the search over the summer and are no longer in the running, Dr. Joe Delap and Dr. David Haney.
For a detailed itinerary of each candidate’s visit or to review their complete CVs, please click on the WLU Board of Governors webpage, found at: westliberty.edu/bog.
The complete itinerary of each candidate’s visit is also posted below:
Dr. Brian Crawford
August 19, 2020:
- 5:30 – 6:30 pm — Interview with Search Committee (Shaw Hall board room)
- 6:30 pm — Dinner at Liberty Oaks
August 20, 2020:
- 8 – 9 am — Breakfast (Liberty Oaks)
- 9:15 – 9:45 am — Meeting with President (Shaw Hall)
- 10 – 10:45 am — Meeting with President’s Cabinet (BOG)
- 11 am – noon — Open Meeting for all campus community and the public (Kelly Theater)
- 12:15 – 1 pm — Lunch (Liberty Oaks)
- 1:15 – 2 pm — Meeting with Staff (Kelly Theater)
- 2:15 – 3 pm — Meeting with Faculty (Kelly Theater)
- 3:15 – 4 pm — Meeting with Students (Kelly Theater)
- 4:30 – 5:30 pm — Tour of Campus (student ambassador)
Dr. Robert Colvin
August 24, 2020:
- 4 – 5 pm — Interview with Search Committee (Shaw Hall board room)
- 5 – 6 pm — Tour of Campus (student ambassador)
- 6:30 pm — Dinner at Liberty Oaks
August 25, 2020:
- 8 – 9 pm — Breakfast (Liberty Oaks)
- 9:15 – 9:45 pm — Meeting with President (Shaw Hall)
- 10 – 10:45 pm — Meeting with President’s Cabinet (BOG)
- 11 am – noon — Open Meeting (Kelly Theater)
- 12:15 – 1 pm — Lunch (Liberty Oaks)
- 1:15 – 2 pm — Meeting with Staff (Kelly Theater)
- 2:15 – 3 pm — Meeting with Faculty (Kelly Theater)
- 3:15 – 4 pm — Meeting with Students (Kelly Theater)