PSC Committee to Gather Input for Next President

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 7, 2011) - The University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees and Presidential Search Committee are holding a series of forums across the state to gather input about some of the characteristics that UK's 12th president should possess.

The next forum will be held at 2 p.m. central time, March 10, at the University of Kentucky Warren Extension Office, 3132 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, Ky., 42101.

The meeting will be open to the public and will be attended by Britt Brockman, chairman of the UK Trustees, Keith Gannon, a member of the Board of Trustees; Joe Peek, a faculty representative to the Board, and Sheila Brothers, staff representative on the Board of Trustees. Directions to the forum site are located below.

UK is searching for its 12th president, following the announcement in September by current President Lee T. Todd, Jr. that he would retire at the end of June after 10 years at the helm.

"The campus for the University of Kentucky is the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We are this state’s flagship, land-grant institution and we touch all 120 counties," Brockman said. "As such, in picking a new president for this institution during a time of both great challenge and opportunity, it’s important to gather input from people throughout our state about what they want to see in their president."

Although the university has seen its budget cut nine times in the past 10 years, UK has, nevertheless, recorded record-high enrollments, research dollar amounts and new highs in student quality and graduation rates during President Todd’s tenure.

"It is critically important to me that we, as Board and Search Committee members, visit the citizens of the Commonwealth prior to final decisions being made," said Sheila Brothers, staff representative to the Board of Trustees. "The citizens of Kentucky have a vested interest in the choosing of UK's next president, particularly since the quest for Top 20 status is directly correlated with a improved job opportunities, improved personal health, and an improved economy, overall. I am very much looking forward to hearing a wide variety of opinions."

A schedule of other visitation sites will be released as scheduling is completed.

Warren County (Bowling Green)

From Interstate 65:

Take exit number 20 onto the Natcher Parkway. Take exit number 4 (the first exit) and turn right onto Nashville Road (31-W) headed northeast toward Bowling Green. Drive about 3/4 of a mile. The Warren County Extension Office will be on the right. It is directly across from Hillvue Heights Church.   

From the Natcher Parkway

Take exit number 4 (the third Bowling Green exit) turn left onto Nashville Road (31W) headed northeast toward Bowling Green. Drive about  1/2 of a mile. The Warren County Extension Office will be on the right. It is directly across from Hillvue Heights Church.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jay Blanton, (859) 257-1754 ext. 247; Jay.Blanton@uky.edu