FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Fairmont State University Board of Governors has approved members of the presidential search committee.
According to the Fairmont State University Board of Governor’s Chairman Rusty Hutson, the committee will be led by Jennifer Kinty, Kevin Rogers and Charles Shields.
The committee includes members from campus and surrounding communities including members of the board, students, faculty, staff and local community and business leaders.
“It’s wide variety of folks both internal, within the university, in the community, alumni association and Fairmont State Foundation Board, a very wide range of representation,” Hutson said.
Hutson said they wanted to make sure we’re getting well-rounded feedback from different parties, Hutson said.
“Not just academia, not just faculty per se, not just the board, but from all different angles of the community,” he said.
The Fairmont State BOG voted back in May to not continue the contract with President Mirta Martin. Dr. Dianna Phillips is serving as interim president.
Officials are evaluating firms capable of conducting a nationwide search for the next Fairmont State University president. Hutson said the group is committed to making a deliberate approach to find the best candidate while remaining within state guidelines.
“We will go through the step-by-step approach required by the state,” Hutson said. “We will make sure we are following all rules that are necessary.”
Hutson said the search is down to three companies and he expects that decision to be final soon.
Once candidates are identified Hutson said the interview process will be used to determine the top candidates. The top candidates will introduced to faculty, students, and community, it’s then community stakeholders will have an opportunity to ask questions.
“We can then start to run through the process of speaking with all these different parties including the students, I don’t want to leave that out, the students will have opportunities to hear from these candidates also and weigh in,” Hutson said.