West Virginia University - News and Information Services
Search for WVU health sciences chancellor proceeding
West Virginia University’s search committee for a new health sciences leader released today (Jan. 12) the organization and leadership profile for a chancellor for WVU Health Sciences, according to Committee Chair and Chairman Emeritus of the WVU Board of Governors Curtis “Hank” Barnette.
The position was formerly titled vice president, but after considerable review, Barnette said the title was changed to chancellor to “better reflect the scope and authority of such a very senior officer of WVU with the significant responsibilities as detailed in the profile, including those related to clinical, teaching and research entities, the various hospitals, four educational schools (medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy), a cancer center and other programs” – on campuses in Morgantown, Charleston and Martinsburg. The title, chancellor, is often used at other universities with similar positions, he added.
Barnette said the search process will follow closely the schedule for the selection of a new WVU president. Candidates will be considered between now and May, with the committee expected to make recommendations of final candidates for consideration by the new president and interim president by June. The chancellor’s anticipated arrival would be fall 2009, reporting directly to the WVU president, Barnette said.
Dr. Fred R. Butcher has been serving as interim vice president for health sciences since April 2007.
The Witt/Kieffer executive search firm is assisting with the search and plans to launch national recruitment efforts early next month.
Barnette said the search committee is committed to an open and transparent process and encourages recommendations of qualified candidates to: John K. Thornburgh, Witt/Keiffer, Two Gateway Center, 603 Stanwix St./Suite 2075, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 – or wvuhealthsciences@wittkieffer.com.
For more information on the procedure for candidacy or the organizational and position responsibilities, go to hscchancellorsearch.wvu.edu.
The next meeting of the search committee will be held in February in Morgantown.