VCFO Search Advisory Committee & Visit by Academic Search Consultant

Search Consultant Visit

Jessica Kozloff, Academic Search

February 18, 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As we begin the search for a new Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations (VCFO), I am pleased to inform you that we have identified the membership of the VCFO Search Advisory Committee. We have also retained the search firm, Academic Search, to assist the Search Advisory Committee in its responsibilities. The Search Advisory Committee includes:

Lisa Erwin, Chair, Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Dean of Students 

Greg Sather, Director, Budget & Analysis 

Mark Yuran, Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources 

Susana Pelayo-Woodward, Assistant to the Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence and Director, Diversity and Inclusion

Wendy Reed, Dean, Swenson College of Science and Engineering 

Sean Huls, Chief, UMD Police Department 

Andrea Schokker, Professor of Civil Engineering      

John Rashid, Director, Facilities Management 

Randy Skalberg, Associate Professor of Accounting 

Jill Kolodzne, Director, Career and Internship Services 

Julie Tonneson, University of Minnesota Associate Vice President and Budget Director 

Griffin Bryan, Chief Financial Officer, UMD Student Association

Pam Merzwski, Administrative Support, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations

Academic Search has worked exclusively for nearly 40 years in searches for presidents and senior administrators in higher education. Senior Consultant Jessica Kozloff, who some of you may remember meeting when she assisted us with the 2016 search for Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, will visit campus on Tuesday, February 18, to meet with members of the campus community. An inclusive schedule has been developed that invites participation by a wide spectrum of the campus community. The schedule, which is found below, includes opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and administrators to meet with the search consultant. Please find the time(s) that are reserved for you.

The role of our consultant is not to select our next VCFO, but rather to support and inform the work of the Search Advisory Committee. The consultant will help to ensure that the search and selection process is managed effectively so that we may achieve our goal of securing the best possible vice chancellor. Since one of our consultant’s major responsibilities is to deliver a solid pool of candidates for the Search Advisory Committee’s review, Jessica is eager to have your insights into the academic condition and future needs of UMD. Knowing your views regarding the kind of leader­ship we should be seeking to most effectively attain our aspirations, as well as meet any challenges, will assist her in building a pool. Your insights and those of other university constituents will be summarized in a written position profile which the Search Advisory Committee will review before publicizing it and sending it to potential candidates. Your comments and suggestions will be extremely helpful to Jessica as she discusses the position and campus with potential applicants. Views expressed in the profile will not be attributed to any individual, so I hope you will be candid.­

If you are unable to attend the campus meetings, I encourage you to send an e-mail to jessica.kozloff@academicsearch.org. 

Thank you in advance for your support and participation.

Lendley Black

Chancellor

Consultant Schedule - Tuesday, February 18, 2020

9:00-9:45 a.m.        COD (Deans and Academic Affairs Administrators) - Darland 520 
 
10:00-10:45 a.m.    Staff from HR/UMDPD/FM/Finance/VCFO Office - Kirby Rafters
 
11:00-11:45 a.m.    Directors and Department Heads - Kirby Rafters
 
12:00-1:00 p.m.      Lisa and Steve - lunch - Center Court
 
1:30-2:15 p.m.        Staff Senate - Darland 520
 
2:30-3:15 p.m.        Faculty Senate - Darland 520
 
3:30-4:15 p.m.        Open Forum for anyone on campus - Kirby Rafters

4:30-5:15 p.m.        Student Senate leadership - Griggs Center