The state Board of Higher Education has hired former Governor and former US Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer as the interim president of the University of North Dakota.
The current president – Robert Kelley – is leaving January 15th. And a search committee is targeting July first for the permanent replacement.
University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott gave the Board two names – Schafer and UND Provost Thomas DiLorenzo. Hagerott told the Board it would be easier on faculty and staff to bring an outsider on temporarily – and let the provost work with the interim president.
"The key component here is the search that's going on," Hagerott told the Board. "We have a former Governor, former Ag Secretary who can meet the next president nominee and say, 'This is a wonderful place, a flagship university -- and I didn't need this job.'"
Dr. Eric Murphy of the UND Medical School is the non-voting faculty representative on the Board. He says he received a “lot” of e-mail from faculty, and most of it said both candidates should be rejected. Murphy says DiLorenzo has had some publicized problems with faculty. And as for Schafer?
"Most people fear that he (Schafer) has very little true experience in higher education," said Murphy. "He does not have the background in higher education. He is a politician. And faculty feel that he probably would not be the right individual."
Board member Dr. Kevin Melicher (mel –ick-ur) said he hears from business people that the University System needs more people with business experience.
Chancellor Hagerott will now negotiate a salary package for Schafer.