WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Sept. 23, 2022 — West Liberty University’s Presidential Search Committee met for the first time today at 4:20 p.m. in historic Shaw Hall.
This meeting was immediately preceded by a 4 p.m. Board of Governors (BOG) meeting called to complete and finalize the Search Committee Members. (The original 15 members were approved by the BOG at its Sept. 13 meeting. Please visit westliberty.edu/bog for complete information on BOG agendas, policies etc.)
The additional members of the Search Committee nominated and approved today are:
- Faculty representative, Dr. Keith Bell, professor of Criminal Justice,
- Dean representative, Dr. Karen Kettler, Dean of the College of Sciences,
- Staff representative Chris McPherson, Director of Learning & Student Development Center
Previous search committee members nominated and approved at the Sept. 13 regular BOG meeting include:
(All Board of Governors serve): Richard “Rich” Lucas (BOG chairman), Wheeling; Jack Adams (BOG vice chairman), McMurray, Pa.; Michael J. Baker, Wheeling; Arlene Brantley, Atlanta, Ga.; Richard Carter, Wheeling; Thomas Cervone, Knoxville, Tenn.; Dr. Jamie Evick (BOG secretary), Glen Dale, W.Va.; Ryan Glanville (WLU staff member), Wheeling; Sydney Burkle, (student government president), Wheeling, W.Va.; David H. McKinley, Wheeling; Jason Metz (faculty member), Pittsburgh; and Stephanie Shaw, Columbus, Ohio.
Other members selected at the Sept. 13 meeting include: WLU Foundation members, John Dolan (alumnus) and Dr. Daniel “Dan” Joseph (alumnus), along with Interim Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Katie Cooper (staff member).
Motion was made and passed unanimously at today’s BOG meeting to accept all 18 members as the final composition of the search committee.
The Board of Governors then moved that the Search Committee should be allowed to discuss and engage a paid search firm. This was followed by a 4:20 p.m. adjournment of the BOG meeting.
The meeting of the Search Committee was then called to order by Search Committee Chairman Tom Cervone.
Discussion began with examining the value of a paid search firm and the method of funding it. The requirement of a Request for Proposal (RFP) was also discussed.
A motion to engage an outside paid search firm was made by Jack Adams, seconded by Richard Carter and passed unanimously.
A subcommittee to handle some of the business of the Search Committee was also suggested by John Dolan and will be considered by the entire committee. This subcommittee would consist of three members of the Search Committee and offer assistance in a speedier fashion than calling the entire board together.
The Search Committee also agreed to send out a Doodle Poll to narrow down times and dates for Search Committee meetings, expected to take place over the next several months.
On another note, the result of the campus-wide surveys distributed via email earlier this week will be shared with the entire Search Committee in the near future.
The Search Committee Meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
Editor’s Note: Cervone was elected as chairman and McKinley was elected as vice-chairman of the Presidential Search Committee at the Sept. 13 meeting.