UM system curators remain mum on details of presidential search

The UM System Board of Curators met Thursday and Friday on the University of Missouri Kansas City campus, but chair Pam Henrickson kept details of the system’s presidential search confidential at a news conference Friday.

“The search is going well and we’re happy with our process,” she said.

The presidential search committee also met this week in Kansas City, concluding several days of meeting on Wednesday night. Co-chairs Jim Whitaker and Cheryl Walker also remained quiet about the search.

They told ABC17 News that they were pleased with the search and that they believe they’ll have a candidate chosen by the end of the year.

There are no more meetings scheduled for the presidential search committee but Henrickson would not confirm if that meant the committee was finished with its work.

Other meetings could still be added to the calendar if necessary.

Henrickson said that the secrecy of the process is nothing new in choosing presidents, and it’s for the candidates’ own good.

“The whole purpose of the secrecy is to make the candidates feel comfortable,” she said. “They can come forward regardless of their current employment situation and talk with us without endangering their current status.”

Middleton agreed that a closed search process was the better way to go.

“Sitting presidents would be reluctant to get into an open search simply because that sort of sends a signal to their current university that they’re wanting to leave,” he said. “If they’re not selected as a result of that search, it probably creates some difficultly when they go back to their permanent jobs. I can understand the need for maintaining some confidentiality.”

Henrickson said the board is looking for a candidate who can maintain good relationships with students, faculty and state legislators because she said funding is an issue for the system.