Chancellor Emmert announced Tuesday he is inviting one of the final five provost candidates back to campus Thursday.
Risa Palm, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, interviewed with Emmert and the provost search committee Feb. 25. She also participated in an open forum to answer faculty and student questions.
“I am very interested in her,” Emmert said. “We will explore if this is good for us.”
Emmert said Palm and her husband will arrive on campus Thursday night and will be on campus Friday. She will meet with the search committee and University administrators during her visit.
Emmert said he was looking for a provost who was the right fit and agreed with the future plan of the University.
He said Palm has wonderful academic values, and she has knowledge and an understanding of what the University wants to become. Palm’s style, manner and her attitude toward faculty, staff and students also attracted Emmert’s attention.
In Palm’s last visit to the campus, Emmert said he sensed she had a very clear grasp of the progress the University is making. She had an upbeat morale and held promise to help continue the University’s progress.
“I am confident this is someone who cares deeply about student concerns,” Emmert said. “I know her to interact well with students.”
Emmert said he will make his decision as soon as possible.
“There is no reason to delay this, but you have to make sure everything fits,” Emmert said.