The UofL Board of Trustees is seeking input through forums this week as it puts together the leadership statement/job description for the presidential search.
The UofL Board of Trustees is seeking input through forums this week as it puts together the leadership statement/job description for the presidential search.

More than 100 UofL faculty, staff, students and friends shared their comments and questions about the search for the university’s next president at forums Wednesday.

The forums were part of a listening tour conducted by the UofL Board of Trustees. The board is seeking input as it puts together the leadership statement/job description as part of the presidential search.

“We all have the same desire,” said Bonita Black, chair of the trustees’ Listening Tour Committee. “We all want the best possible president for the university.”

Common themes arose through two open community events and small-group meetings with the executive committees of the Faculty and Staff senates and the Council of Academic Officers (deans and other key administrators). Those themes included a need for the next president to have a strong academic background and to value diversity, integrity and transparency. In addition, forum participants suggested the next president should be politically savvy, committed to community service and student focused.

The listening tour will continue Thursday with several small-group meetings, as well as open forums at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the University Club. The open forums will be live streamed at this link: http://uofl.me/UL-Video.

Questions and comments also may be submitted on the presidential search website here, or on Twitter using the hashtag #uoflprezsearch.

SHARE
John Drees is a 35-year veteran in the Office of Communications and Marketing. As vice president, communications and marketing, he works closely with the president, provost and other senior administrators, oversees the Office of Communications and Marketing, including media relations, marketing and brand, broadcast, social media, internal communication, crisis communication, visitor services and special events and activities. A former sports editor for the Voice Newspapers, he was a regular contributor to a variety of publications, including the Kentucky Sports Report and the Courier-Journal. A poor but enthusiastic golfer, he is an avid Cardinal sports fan. He also loves the Detroit Lions, so pity him.