An update on the presidential search process
March 21, 2019
Dear Pacific Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni,
I'd like to inform you about the upcoming presidential search and the process we will undertake.
As we begin this endeavor, I want to assure you that the Board of Regents is approaching this decision with careful consideration at each stage of the process. We rely on the president to shape a vision and lead the university forward, while ensuring quality and financial sustainability. As such, hiring the university's president is one of the most important roles of the board. Our goal is to identify and hire a strong leader who will develop and carry out the university's next strategic plan that will guide Pacific to an even stronger future. The board will create opportunities for faculty, staff, students, alumni and others to engage in the search.
Preliminary work is underway. To ensure we have a thorough and well vetted process, we will be seeking a search firm to assist us with establishing a search committee, creating a position profile including the desired characteristics of the next president identified by the university's stakeholders, finding highly qualified candidates, and ultimately hiring the next president.
I have appointed an ad hoc search planning committee composed of Regents Norman Allen, Rick Fleming, Andrea Hoch, Gary Mitchell and Susanne Stirling to review search firm proposals and recommend a finalist to the board's Executive Committee, which will select the search firm at its March 29 meeting.
The search firm will guide a discussion of the search process at the board's April 25 meeting. Topics will include composition of the search committee, an open vs. closed search, and a detailed process and timeline. The search firm will also advise the best way to seek input from several stakeholder groups.
During the search process, the university will continue to move forward with its initiatives under President Eibeck, who will serve in her current role until her retirement on June 30. On July 1, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Pallavicini will become interim president, and McGeorge School of Law Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz will become interim provost. We are grateful to President Eibeck for her leadership and thank Provost Pallavicini and Dean Schwartz for taking on interim roles, helping to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of leadership.
I want to recognize your efforts during this transition. Pacific is undergoing significant change, which can bring both uncertainty and opportunity. I believe what distinguishes Pacific from other universities is the remarkable desire you have demonstrated to make a difference. I thank you for staying the course and continuing to do great work.
I will update you following the April board meeting.
Sincerely,
Kevin Huber '86
Chair, Board of Regents