President Eli Capilouto began searching for a new provost after Christine Riordan left the job to become Adelphi University’s first female president.

Riordan served as UK’s provost from the fall of 2013 through December 2014 before leaving for her presidential position in New York.

In a Dec. 19 email sent out to the campus at large, university President Eli Capilouto wrote that the UK faculty and staff he had spoken with emphasized a “sense of urgency to (work on education initiatives and hiring) and the broader need for stability and certainty in the Office of the Provost.”

Capilouto wrote in the email that among the goals discussed were the need to expand undergraduate student retention and graduation, increase diversity and complete the next Strategic Plan, which should guide the university through the coming years of physical and strategic growth.

Deans for the colleges of Dentistry, Design, Medicine and Public Health must also be selected, Capilouto wrote in the email.

“Given the list of initiatives we need to accomplish to continue our progress as a University, a strong majority of my conversations have made clear to me the need to undertake a deliberate, but rapid process for selecting a permanent Provost,” Capilouto wrote in the email. “This is the better choice for our campus at this moment — in comparison to selecting an Interim Provost to be followed by a lengthy national search.”

Candidates were submitted for consideration between Dec. 22 and Jan. 5.

Capilouto wrote in the email that Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Nancy Cox and Vice President for Student Affairs Robert Mock served as search committee co-chairs.

On Jan. 6, UK administration announced that the first provost search committee meeting had been held.

Staff Senate chair Mike Adams, College of Engineering professor Kim Anderson, Senate council chair Andrew Hippisley, College of Medicine professor Nancy Schoenberg, Martin School of Public Administration professor Gina Toma and student body vice president Mariel Jackson joined the search committee, according to the email.

The committee accepted nominations until 5 p.m. on Monday.

The nominees will be asked to submit a resume by Friday evening if they are interested in the position.

STAFF REPORT