UD Progresses in Search for Next President

Photo via University of Dayton

Michael Oliss | News Editor

The University of Dayton has made substantial progress in its search for retiring president Eric Spina’s eventual successor. Chairperson of the UD Board of Trustees Deborah Tobias announced that the presidential search advisory committee, which consists of 18 people, has been finalized. The executive search firm hired by UD officials after Spina’s decision will hold listening sessions next month.

Brother Tim Driscoll, vice president for mission and rector, and Tobias will chair the committee together.

In an email to the UD community, Tobias said, “Our goal is to find a visionary leader who embodies our values, can advance our Catholic, Marianist mission, and lead UD into the future.”

“Please pray for us that we will fulfill our charge with wisdom and discernment,” Driscoll said in the announcement. “We need the help and support of the entire campus community to do our job responsibly. Please join the members of the committee at one of our listening sessions. We need your voice and your vision.”

The search committee consists of eight current UD Board of Trustees members; seven UD staff or faculty members, including the dean of Business Administration; and one former Chair of the Board of Trustees, who also serves as “community representative.” As for student representation, there is one graduate student and one undergraduate on the committee.

Isaacson, Miller is a Boston-based executive search firm with a history of assisting institutions of higher education in finding their next president. UD announced their partnership in the days following Spina’s retirement announcement. The committee, together with Isaacson, Miller, will hold community listening sessions and meetings in March. According to Tobias’ Feb. 24 announcement, the listening sessions will “directly inform the candidate profile [the search committee uses] to recruit and evaluate candidates.”

The sole student listening session is scheduled for 8 a.m. on March 12, in the Kennedy Union Ballroom. According to Isaacson, Miller, Julie Filizetti is leading the search with Rafa Escobedo and Gabrielle Nayar.

Flyer News will publish an in-depth look at the search for the next president of UD in our next monthly edition.