Jim Kessler now officially has his team in place to find Emporia State University’s next president.
The Kansas Board of Regents has officially approved the Presidential Search Committee, with Kessler and 24 others now tasked with finding Emporia State’s next leader with the retirement of current president Ken Hush coming by mid-December. Members are as follows:
*Jim Kessler, Search Committee Chair
*Neelima Parasker, Regent
*Blake Flanders, Kansas Board of Regents President and CEO
Faculty and Staff
*Aaron Clark, IT Support Specialist
*Rajarshi Dey, Associate Professor in the School of Science and Mathematics
*Steve Rodecap, Director of Athletics
*Rochelle Rowley, Professor in the School of School of Humanities + Social Sciences Directory
*Sara Schwerdtfeger, Dean of The Teachers College
*Jerald Spotswood, Professor of English and Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
*Tabatha Tafoya, Director of Human Resources
Students
*Joel Franz, Senior, Majoring in Accounting and Finance
*Harris Kossover, Graduate Student, in Business Administration and ESU Director of Athletic Digital Content
*Madison Vermetten, Senior, Majoring in Biology and Health & Human Performance
Alumni/Community Leaders
*Greg Ek, First Vice President, Wealth Management, Alternative Investments Director at Morgan Stanley
*Jason Fanning, Vice President at Black & Veatch
*Erren Harter, Mayor of Emporia
*Greg Kossover, Executive Officer and Director of Equity Bancshares
*Jonathan Krueger, Vice President of Security at Reserv
*Denise Larrick, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Lyon County State Bank
*Mike Law, Owner and Operator Law Communications and Little Apple Broadcasting
*Jeff Longbine, Owner Longbine Auto Plaza
*Brody Peak, Owner and Operator Emporia Livestock Sales
*Doug Peck, Lyon County Commissioner
*Cathy Pimple, Chief Executive Officer of Newman Regional Health
*Patricia Saenz-Reyes, USD 253 Migrant Education Student & Family Resource Specialist Emporia State University Presidential Search
The Board of Regents also approved the official charge, or committee responsibilities — starting with the criteria for approval by KBOR at its September meeting. Committee members are told to serve “without predetermined bias” and “without regard to race, religion, creed or national origin.” The board will work with an executive consulting firm, identified by Kessler as CBIZ, and shall evaluate nominations and applications before submitting five unranked candidates to the Board of Regents for final approval.
Communication to the public is to be handled by Kessler.
