NKU’s search for its seventh president has been conducted in confidentiality over the last several months to ensure the strongest pool of candidates be considered for the post. With the long and winding process possibly coming to a head, The Northerner has generated a timeline of the key events that encapsulates the mystified process.
November 17, 2022
The Board of Regents holds a special meeting announcing that NKU and former President Dr. Ashish Vaidya mutually agreed to part ways.
January 9, 2023
The BOR holds a special meeting to vote on whether the interim president would be eligible to assume the permanent position, deciding in the negative.
January 19, 2023
The BOR announces Bonita Brown as NKU’s interim president. She was NKU’s vice president and chief strategy officer prior to her appointment.
March 15, 2023
The BOR forms the presidential search committee and declares the presidential search framework. The committee was charged to oversee the nationwide search process for NKU’s seventh president and collect a “diverse and distinguished pool of presidential candidates, with assistance of an external search firm with extensive higher education experience.”
The Presidential Search Site launches, which includes information about the university, region and position. The Presidential Profile was eventually added to this site.
March 22, 2023
NKU Marketing and Communications sends an email inviting community members to attend open forums with the search committee to learn about the search process and offer thoughts about the ideal qualities the next president should possess. A survey was included in the email.
May 16, 2023
A mass email sent on behalf of Regent and Search Chair Kara Williams states that feedback from nearly 400 attendants at listening sessions and 200 survey responses was used to draft a Presidential Profile describing the ideal next president.
August 11, 2023
A mass email sent on behalf of Regent and Search Chair Kara Williams states that the committee and the third-party recruiting firm WittKieffer amassed a pool of candidates, engaging various constituents in the NKU committee and reviewing over 90 applications.
September 13, 2023
The BOR is scheduled to vote on and announce NKU’s seventh president.