Return to Nicholas Johnson's Main Web Site www.nicholasjohnson.org

Return to Nicholas Johnson's Iowa Rain Forest ("Earthpark") Web Site

Return to Nicholas Johnson's Blog, FromDC2Iowa
 
 

Committee members desire an intellectual leader

Diane Heldt

The Gazette

March 3, 2007

[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]



  IOWA CITY — The next University of Iowa president’s top quality should be intellectual leadership, several members of the committee seeking that person said Friday.

  That means having personal leadership skills, ability to recognize and value scholarship in faculty and intellectual curiosity across disciplines, members said.

  ‘‘I think it has to go at the top of the list,’’ College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Linda Maxson said. ‘‘I think that’s the single most distinguishing characteristic we’re looking for.’’

  Candidates must bring a track record to campus, Maxson said. ‘‘You don’t want them to come here and learn that,’’ she said.

  The 13- member search committee spent most of Friday’s meeting talking about qualities it seeks in a president as it searches for a successor to David Skorton, who left the UI last June for the Cornell University presidency. The group discussed candidates in closed session.

  Other qualities committee members want include high energy, the ability to articulate a vision and develop goals for the UI, being a spokesperson — whether it be communicating successes or crisis management — and success in fundraising.

  The committee is starting to gel on the key qualities it wants, Chairman David Johnsen said. It now must develop questions and evaluation methods to best flesh them out in the candidates, he said.

  Committee members hope to have a new president chosen by July 1.