WESTFIELD – Last night, upon recommendation of the Presidential Search Committee, the Westfield State University Board of Trustees officially ratified Diversified Search of Philadelphia, PA to help manage the search process for the selection of the university’s 20th president.
Diversified Search is a woman-owned, top ten executive search firm with specialties in the areas of education and not-for-profits. Throughout the firm’s 40-year history, Diversified has always sought leaders that not only have strong character and credentials, but also those with different perspectives and views.
The Presidential Search Committee met January 5 to review proposals and conduct search firm interviews and selected Diversified from among four firms who submitted a request for proposal.
“Diversified Search was the strongest choice due to its extensive experience in higher education,” said Steven P. Marcus, ’88, co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Diversified will help the search committee, the board of trustees and the entire Westfield State community develop the values, characteristics and alignment of purpose needed to conduct a successful search.”
With the search firm approved, the timeline will be developed and meetings with the members of the campus community will be convened to share their opinions on what traits and characteristics the next Westfield State president should possess. Two days of open forums, moderated by Diversified Search, are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
“Developing a timeline and criteria will be critical for this search. We do not want the search to drag on but we do want to take the time we need to select the very best candidate possible,” said Terrell Hill, ’92, co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee.
The member of the Westfield State University Presidential Search Committee are: Katheryn Bradford, Director, Alumni Relations (APA); Junior Delgado, Director, Career Services (APA); Evelyn Dina ’16, SGA Member, Student Representative; Joshua Frank, Student Trustee; Dr. Margot Hennessy, Chair, Ethnic and Gender Studies, MSCA Chapter President; Terrell Hill ’92, Trustee; Robin Jensen, Chair, Foundation Board; Ron’na Lytle, Administrative Assistant, Ethnic and Gender Studies, (AFSCME); Steven Marcus ’88, Trustee; Luis Perez, Trustee; Carlton Pickron, Vice President, Student Affairs (NUP); Henry Thomas, BHE Representative; Dr. Edward Welsh, Associate Professor, Mathematics (MSCA).
Information on the status of the presidential search is posted to the Presidential Search web page.
