ALASKA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY SELECTS FIRM TO CONDUCT PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH
Witt/Kieffer, a national executive search firm specializing in academic presidential recruitment, has been selected to partner with Alaska Pacific University [APU] in finding its next president, the APU Presidential Search Committee announced today.
APU’s current president, Dr. Douglas North, announced his retirement last year, and the Presidential Search Committee has been planning for North’s succession since then, said Dr. Charlie Fahl, chair of the university’s search committee, former APU academic dean and a member of the Board of Trustees.
The committee prepared a succession plan and reviewed proposals from five executive search firms from around the country. The list was narrowed to three firms, and executives of those firms came to campus in June for interviews with the committee and trustees. After a comprehensive process, Witt/Kieffer was selected.
North plans to leave APU in 2010 and has recently been named the new Head of School for The Albany Academies in Albany, New York. In a message to the APU Board of Trustees on July 1, North said that while he contemplated retirement after leaving APU next year, the opportunity to lead a school from which he graduated 51 years ago was one he couldn’t pass up.
In his final year at APU, North will assist with the presidential transition, but also will spend time in Albany preparing to take over the college-preparatory day school.
North, APU president since early in 1995, has brought academic and financial stability to the college. During his tenure, he increased enrollment, launched the Early Honors Program, enhanced support for the world renown APU Nordic Ski Center and elite Nordic ski team, completed a $36 million capital campaign that renovated the entire campus and built the university's endowment and cash reserves. Prior to his tenure at APU, he was president of Prescott College in Arizona.
Witt/Kieffer, a firm with offices in 17 locations, a staff of more than 60 consultants and a roster of 32 academic searches currently underway, is strong on structure for conducting leadership recruitment, Fahl said.
“The firm has an Education Leadership Council, comprised of former college and university presidents who provide consultative support to the search process and the boards of trustees as they select a new leader,” he said.
It is expected the contract with the search firm will be signed in the next two weeks after which the recruitment campaign for the new president will commence. The search committee encourages nominations, and Witt/Kieffer will recruit candidates from its database of academic and executive sources, Fahl said.
Timeline established by the Presidential Search Committee:
• August: The Witt/Kieffer website, www.wittkieffer.com will post a job description and all background information about the position in the “Education/Not For Profit” section. Interested candidates will be able to submit their applications via email at APUPresident@wittkieffer.com.
• September: Candidates will be screened and ranked throughout the month.
• October: Interviews with top candidates will commence.
• November/December: Final candidates will be invited to campus in for in-depth interviews with the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students.
• December: The Board of Trustees will vote at its December board meeting to select the new president.
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