A Message from Fr. Jenkins - Provost Search Committee
September 3, 2019
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
Few decisions are as consequential for a university as the selection of a new Provost, who under the President oversees its central work of teaching and research. Notre Dame’s next Provost, in following Tom Burish, will have very big shoes to fill but a strong foundation on which to build.
The process for choosing a Provost as defined by the Academic Articles (Article II/Section1/The Provost) begins with the election by the Academic Council of five of its elected faculty representatives and one of its student representatives to a search committee chaired by the President. The President may then appoint up to three members of the regular faculty and one student “in order to ensure that a broad range of views and perspectives is represented on the committee.”
On Thursday, August 29th, the Academic Council elected the following members to the search committee:
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Kasey Buckles
Brian and Jeannelle Brady Associate Professor of Economics
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Patrick J. Flynn
Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Duda Family Professor of Engineering, College of Engineering
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Michael Hildreth
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, College of Science, Professor of Physics
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Margaret Meserve
Associate Professor of History, Fabiano Collegiate Chair in Italian Studies, Associate Dean for the Humanities and Faculty Affairs, College of Arts and Letters
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Ramachandran Ramanan
Professor, Department of Accountancy, Mendoza College of Business
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Maria Salerno
Undergraduate Student, College of Science
I then asked the following faculty and student to serve on the committee, and each has agreed:
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Laura A. Carlson
Vice President, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School, Professor, Psychology Department
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Veronica Root Martinez
Professor of Law, Robert & Marion Short Scholar
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Carl Ackermann
Nolan Professorship for Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction, Teaching Professor Finance, Mendoza College of Business
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Karen Angeles
Graduate Student, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
With this committee, we will undertake a robust national and international search for our next Provost. Among our first tasks will be to describe the qualities of the ideal candidate for Provost at this time in Notre Dame’s history. As we undertake a process of reflection and discussion on this question, we will set up listening sessions with faculty of the various colleges, as well as students and staff, to hear your thoughts. Informed by our reflection and what we have heard, we will then write a position prospectus describing the nature of the opportunity and the qualities we are seeking in a candidate. That prospectus will be shared with prospective candidates and those from whom we seek recommendations.
I conclude by thanking members of the committee for their willingness to serve. I also thank Tom Burish—as I will do many times this year—for putting the University in such a strong position in its search for his successor. Finally, I thank each of you for your participation in this important process and for all you do for Notre Dame.
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President, University of Notre Dame