Oregon State University is continuing to search for a new president in anticipation of its long-time leader stepping down next summer.
Ed Ray, the university’s current president, announced in March his plan to step down when his contract ends in June. Ray has been OSU’s president since 2003 and is the state’s longest-serving current public university president.
A 15-member presidential search committee, made up of OSU trustees, faculty, students and others, is narrowing a pool of more than 160 people down to 12 candidates, who it plans to interview sometime this month.
Another group of OSU stakeholders plans to conduct second round interviews in November.
“We are pleased with the quality and diversity of applicants for the position,” said Darry Callahan, chair of the presidential search committee, in a news release. “Candidates identified for the first round of interviews bring extensive expertise and a broad range of higher education leadership, teaching and research experience.”
The presidential search committee is using a "Presidential Leadership Profile," approved by the OSU Board of Trustees, to evaluate the candidates.
The document is an overview of the expectations and the ideal qualities for the new president.