Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I am pleased to announce the beginning of the search process for the next provost of Seattle University. This is a very important process for all of us and for the fulfillment of our educational mission since the provost is the academic leader of the university. The search process will begin now and will develop over the course of the summer and the fall, with the anticipation of open interviews in the early Winter Quarter, aiming for an announcement of the person chosen in late February, with the new provost taking up his or her responsibilities July 1, 2017. The provost search will conducted by the firm of Isaacson, Miller and led by Julie Filizetti and her associates Sheila Bharucha and Nate Brewster. I am very grateful to the Academic Assembly for having conducted a survey of faculty about the academic needs and opportunities we face as well as the qualities we look for in the next provost. I was especially pleased by the broad response this survey received, which will be of great help in informing the search process.

I write to you at this time because there are opportunities this coming week to give input to the search firm about the needs of the university in regard to academic leadership. I would encourage you to participate in one or more of the sessions listed below. The search firm will be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday, June 7 and 8 to meet with a number of stakeholders as well as to conduct several listening sessions. On Tuesday morning, they will meet with members of the Cabinet and the Council of Deans, and in the afternoon you are encouraged to attend one of the following listening sessions:

Tuesday, June 7

• Faculty – 1-2 p.m., Pigott 103
• Faculty, Staff and Students – 2:30-3:30 p.m., Pigott 103
• Faculty, Staff and Students – 4-5 p.m., Pigott 103

On Wednesday morning, the Search Committee, which I am in the process forming, will meet and be formally charged to begin the important work that lies ahead. I appreciate my conversations with the Academic Assembly and their recommendations for the composition of that committee. I will be announcing the members of this committee shortly.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J.
President