Search for Provost Narrows to Two Finalists

VALDOSTA -- The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Search and Screening Committee released the names of two finalists for the position. The 18-member search committee announced Dr. V.K. Unni, vice president for Academic Affairs at Bryant University, and Dr. David Glassman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern Indiana, will interview on campus during the month of April.

According to Dr. Jay Rickman, chair of the search committee, 74 applications were reviewed by the committee; and through an extensive vetting process, the list was narrowed to 10 candidates, who participated in off-campus interviews March 6-7.

An outside firm conducted in-depth reference checks on each of the finalists, which included phone calls to references provided by the candidate, as well as calls to faculty and staff at the candidate’s current institution.

“Because of the importance of the Provost position to VSU’s future, the members of the search committee decided that it was vital to have a professional firm conduct the reference checks on the finalists,” said Rickman. “Prior to this point, the committee maintained the confidentiality of all applications received, and in accord with equal opportunity guideline, candidates were notified if they did not advance to the next stage throughout the search process.”

Unni will be the first to visit on April 19-20 and Glassman is scheduled for April 21-22. Both candidates will have scheduled meetings with students, faculty, staff and members of the VSU Foundation Board. Members of the university and local community are invited to an open forum, where each candidate will give a 20-minute presentation, followed by a time for questions.

For more information on the candidates, schedule of their on-campus visit, and search committee information visit www.valdosta.edu/pres/provostsearch/.