Position Announcement Unveiled for New President

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 30, 2010) – The University of Kentucky’s 12th president should have visionary leadership skills and a commitment to UK’s mission as both the flagship and land-grant institution for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Those are among the chief attributes outlined in a position announcement for UK’s next president released today by the Presidential Search Committee. The announcement will run in an upcoming issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education as well as other national publications covering higher education issues.

“This position announcement is an important milestone in the selection process,” said Britt Brockman, chairman of the UK Board of Trustees. “We are now in the process of formally soliciting nominations for the presidency. As importantly, we are making a statement to the higher education community and more broadly about the kind of university we are today and what we plan to be in the future – a Top 20 public research institution that makes a profound difference in our state and our world.”

Other attributes in the next president include:

•           Superior leadership and management skills

•           A record of scholarly achievement

•           Innovative leadership skills

•           An ability to communicate with both internal and external constituencies of the university

The position announcement also provides background about UK, from details regarding its budget, academic and athletics programs to background about the university’s state mandate to become a Top 20 public research institution by 2020.

“President Todd has set the bar extremely high, given the incredible progress UK has made in the past 10 years, a tenure also often marked by significant financial challenges,” Brockman said. “We have very high expectations for our next president. And we are committed to finding the right person to continue our progress and momentum toward the aspirations we have set for UK and the state.”

UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. announced in September his plans to retire at the end of June 2011 after 10 years as president, a tenure marked by record enrollment, increases in student quality and graduation rates, and research expenditures.

The UK Board of Trustees has outlined a timetable for the presidential search, with the goal of extending an offer to a new president by May 2011. To read the position announcement – or find additional information regarding the search - go to www.uky.edu/presidentialsearch.