Presidential Search Communications

Statement from Doug Edwards, Chair, University of Memphis Board of Trustees: The University of Memphis Board of Trustees is pleased to have had three highly accomplished and distinguished educational leaders on our campus this week for discussions concerning the position of UofM President. After review and deliberation of the goals of the University, the Executive Committee will move Dr. Bill Hardgrave forward as the recommendation to be considered by the UofM Board of Trustees as the 13th President of the University of Memphis at their meeting on Tuesday, November 9.

Board of Trustees Meeting Recording

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Community Friends:
 
The beginning of today’s live stream of the Board of Trustees meeting was impacted by technical malfunctions, and some people were unable to view in real time. The meeting is available in its entirety here.

I recognize the importance of today’s meeting, and I apologize for the inconvenience.

Sincerely,
 
Robert Jackson, EdD
Chief Information Officer

Presidential Search - Board of Trustees Meetings - November 5, 2021

The executive committee of the UofM Board of Trustees will meet today, Nov. 5, at noon in the Maxine A. Smith University Center Senate Chamber to review the candidates for the 13th president of the University of Memphis and to make a recommendation to the Board. 

The University of Memphis Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 3 p.m. to consider the recommendation made by the UofM Board of Trustees Executive Committee. The meeting will also take place in the Maxine A. Smith University Center Senate Chamber.

Both meetings are open to the public and will be live streamed.  

For agenda and meeting materials, visit memphis.edu/bot/meetings and click on the respective meeting link.

Friday, Nov. 5 - Executive Committee Meeting

• 12 Noon
• Maxine A. Smith University Center – Senate Chamber 261
• View Live Stream >

Tuesday, Nov. 9 - Special Called Meeting

• 3 p.m.
• Maxine A. Smith University Center – Senate Chamber 261
• View Live Stream >
   

For more information, contact the Board Office at trustees@memphis.edu or 901.678.2155. 

UofM announces UofM Board of Trustee meetings - November 1, 2021

The executive committee of the UofM Board of Trustees will meet Friday at noon in the Maxine A. Smith University Center Senate Chamber to review the candidates for the 13th president of the University of Memphis and make a recommendation to the Board.

The University of Memphis Board of Trustees will meet Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. to consider the recommendation made by the UofM Board of Trustees Executive Committee. The meeting will take place in the Maxine A. Smith University Center Senate Chamber in room 261.

Both meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed.  

Links for the livestream will be provided on the day of the meeting. For agenda and meeting materials, visit memphis.edu/bot/meetings and click on the respective meeting link. 

For more information, contact the Board Office at trustees@memphis.edu or 901.678.2155. 

Presidential Candidate 3: Details and Open Session Information - November 2, 2021

Members of the faculty, staff, students, alumni, Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors received an invitation to participate in the interview process. The third candidate was named:

Candidate 3: Teik Lim, PhD
Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and President ad interim
The University of Texas at Arlington

Open session participants are encouraged to pose questions. In-person participants will ask questions at the microphone. Live stream participants can submit questions via the chat, and questions will be relayed to the candidate by the facilitator. Q&A will continue as time permits.

A survey link to submit a candidate evaluation was also distributed via email. Participants are asked to complete the survey with your remarks regarding Dr. Lim by 10 AM on Friday, Nov. 5.

Carol Roberts
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Co-Vice Chair, UofM Board of Trustees

Presidential Candidate 2: Details and Open Session Information - November 1, 2021

Members of the faculty, staff, students, alumni, Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors received an invitation to participate in the interview process. The second candidate was named:

Candidate 2: Bill Hardgrave, PhD
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Auburn University

Open session participants are encouraged to pose questions. In-person participants will ask questions at the microphone. Live stream participants can submit questions via the chat, and questions will be relayed to the candidate by the facilitator. Q&A will continue as time permits.

A survey link to submit a candidate evaluation was also distributed via email. Participants are asked to complete the survey with your remarks regarding Dr. Hardgrave by 10 AM on Thursday, Nov. 4.

The third candidate’s information will be distributed Tuesday, Nov. 2, for the Nov. 4 open sessions.

Carol Roberts
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Co-Vice Chair, UofM Board of Trustees

Presidential Candidate 1: Details and Open Session Information - October 29, 2021

Members of the faculty, staff, students, alumni, Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors received an invitation to participate in the interview process. The first candidate was named:

Candidate 1: Cammy Abernathy, PhD
Professor and Dean, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
University of Florida

Open session participants are encouraged to pose questions. In-person participants will ask questions at the microphone. Live stream participants can submit questions via the chat, and questions will be relayed to the candidate by the facilitator. Q&A will continue as time permits.

A survey link to submit a candidate evaluation was also distributed via email. Participants are asked to complete the survey with your remarks regarding Dr. Abernathy by 10 AM on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

The second candidate’s information will be distributed Monday, Nov. 1, for the Nov. 3 open sessions; and the third candidate’s information will be distributed Tuesday, Nov. 2, for the Nov. 4 open sessions.

Carol Roberts
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Co-Vice Chair, UofM Board of Trustees

Save the Dates: Presidential Search Open Sessions - October 29, 2021

As Chair of the Search Committee for the 13th President of the University of Memphis, I invite you to participate in the open session interviews of the candidates during the week of November 1, 2021. Please save the dates below. Additionally, the candidates will spend two days on campus meeting with the Board of Trustees, the Board of Visitors, the President’s Council and deans of the colleges. 
 
The name of each candidate will be announced two days before their open sessions and, along with their resume and live stream and/or Zoom information, distributed to you directly. The first candidate’s information will be distributed Friday, Oct. 29, for the Nov. 2 open sessions; the second candidate’s information will be distributed Monday, Nov. 1, for the Nov. 3 open sessions; and the third candidate’s information will be distributed Tuesday, Nov. 2, for the Nov. 4 open sessions.

Candidate 1 Open Sessions: Tuesday, Nov. 2

Candidate 2 Open Sessions: Wednesday, Nov. 3

Candidate 3 Open Sessions: Thursday, Nov. 4

You may also visit the Presidential Search webpage for updates during the process.
 
Carol Roberts
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Co-Vice Chair, UofM Board of Trustees

UofM Presidential Search Update (Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni & Friends) - October 26, 2021

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Community Friends:
 
As Chair of the Search Committee for the 13th President of the University of Memphis, I wanted to provide an update regarding the search process. The final candidates will be on campus for interviews next week, November 1-5. We invite you to participate, and we look forward to your feedback. Arrangements are underway, and once the schedule is finalized, we will provide information and invitations for in-person and online open session interviews.

You may also visit the Presidential Search webpage for updates during the process. 
 
Let me take this opportunity to thank the search committee for their tireless efforts in this process. Members of the committee include Cato Johnson, Susan Springfield, Dr. Jeff Marchetta, Dr. Jill Dapremont, Dr. Albert Nguyen, Matthew White, Ashley Rosen, Dr. Karen Weddle-West, Dr. Zaneta Ivy, Lauren Ashman, Mike Keeney, Reginald Porter Jr., Fred Towler and Rob Carter. The committee has worked countless hours over the past several months and dedicated so much of their personal time in order to identify the right candidates to drive the University of Memphis forward.
 
Carol Roberts
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Co-Vice Chair, UofM Board of Trustees

Presidential Search Updates (Surveys and Listening Sessions Announced) - April 19, 2021

As announced in March, Dr. M. David Rudd, the 12th president of the University of Memphis, will be leaving his position in May 2022. Parker Executive Search (PES) has been selected by the UofM Board of Trustees to lead the University of Memphis in naming the 13th president of the UofM.

This is an important process, and we want to ensure that faculty have their voices heard regarding their needs, interests and vision for the next leader of our institution. UofM faculty, staff and students will have various opportunities to be involved, and the surveys below are the primary methods to share your feedback with the presidential search committee:

Presidential Search Feedback Survey >

Presidential Nomination Survey >

Please provide feedback by May 5, 2021
 
In addition to completing the surveys, you are invited to attend a virtual information session to learn more about the presidential search committee and process. (Session information was shared with faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community via direct emails.)

For the most current information regarding the presidential search, please visit the UofM Board of Trustees website.

UofM Announces Presidential Search Committee (Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, Media) - April 19, 2021

The University of Memphis announced today the members of the Search Committee for the 13th President of the University of Memphis. The Search Committee representation includes a broad spectrum of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. Previously, the UofM announced it had chosen Parker Executive Search to assist in its search and review of candidates.

View committee members >

The UofM also announced today a schedule of virtual information sessions developed as an avenue for its constituents to learn more about the presidential search committee and process. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community will have the opportunity to provide feedback during the sessions and via surveys.

For more information, visit memphis.edu/bot/presidential-search.

Search Firm Announced (Faculty, Staff, Students and Media) - April 5, 2021

Statement from the University of Memphis:

Parker Executive Search (PES) has been selected to lead the University of Memphis in naming the 13thPresident of the UofM. Providing services to both public and private colleges and universities to aggressively recruit academic leaders, Parker Executive Search has conducted more than 500 successful higher education searches for chancellor, president, vice president, provost, dean, chair and director positions. Laurie Wilder, president of PES, is the UofM liaison for the search firm. 

For additional information, please refer to memphis.edu/bot/presidential-search.