The University’s contract with Greenwood/Asher & Associates Inc., the search firm working on Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Jack Hamilton’s replacement, is nearly finalized, and could cost the University up to $1.5 million.
The University’s proposal review committee, composed of Mimi Reubsamen, executive director of the Office of Human Resource Management; Liz Roberson, manager of human resource management; Kenneth W. McMilin, animal sciences professor; Heath Price, assistant vice chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services; and Jane Cassidy, Vice Provost for Human Resources and Facilities Management, evaluated 10 applicants for search firms.
Thomas Klei, chairman of the provost search committee, said his committee was not involved in the search firm evaluation process.
The University’s request for proposals from search firms says firms were ranked based on qualifications and experience, approach and methodology, and references on past executive searches.
According to Greenwood/Asher’s request to fill the role as search committee, the firm will work in partnership with the University and interview top prospects then report its interview results to the University.
“We have not had any unsuccessful searches as we stay with our clients until they have selected a candidate of choice,” Greenwood/Asher’s request states. “We can move a search as fast as the client desires.”
Greenwood/Asher was the same search firm contracted by the Board of Regents last year to find a replacement for the Commissioner of Higher Education.
The Board of Regents paid Greenwood/Asher roughly $70,000. The University is willing to pay Greenwood/Asher as much as $1.4 million more for its University provost search than the Regents paid for the search for the Commissioner of Higher Education for the state.
Celena Tilbury, assistant director in the University’s Office of Purchasing, said it is ambiguous where this $1.5 million is coming from. She said it may come from state funds or self-generated money.
 
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Contact Andrea Gallo at [email protected]