The tentative timeline for Grambling State University’s Presidential Search must be reworked, according to Search Chair and University of Louisiana System President Sandra K. Woodley. The original goal to name a new president in October will be extended into Spring 2015.
“During the May committee meeting, we indicated that the search timeline would likely be delayed if we chose to go through the state’s rigorous Request for Proposals (RFP) process to secure a search firm with HBCU experience,” said Woodley. “We did decide to seek a firm with HBCU experience, and thus the process is underway. However, it will likely take a few more months to get final approval to move forward with a search firm. To ensure a careful and exhaustive search for Grambling State’s next president, I will recommend a new timeline to the committee.”
The new proposed timeline will include an October committee meeting, a February preferred application date, semi-finalist interviews in March, and finalist interviews and selection in April. “We continue to move the process forward as quickly as possible given our extra diligence to get the most qualified search firm, and we are on track to ensure a comprehensive search for the new leadership. My staff has been carefully reviewing search firms per the RFP and working on the process to get to a contract as soon as possible. We are also fortunate to have Grambling Interim President Cynthia Warrick onboard to address the many challenges facing the institution, and we are actively gathering input from various constituency groups to hear their thoughts and suggestions about Grambling’s future direction as well as desired characteristics of the next president,” said Woodley.
This summer, Woodley and UL System Executive Vice President and Provost Karla Hughes traveled across the country to meet with Grambling’s extensive out-of-state alumni groups for open dialogue about the search. Due to its national reputation, historic mission and legacy culture, Grambling enrolls a significant amount of students from outside of Louisiana and maintains robust, active alumni chapters in many states. Although it was not possible to meet with every group, to date they have visited Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Houston. They also attended the Grambling National Alumni Association’s annual meeting in Shreveport. Meetings are scheduled for Dallas and tentatively for Los Angeles.
