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Date published: Dec. 27, 2018
Dear UD Community,
I am delighted to report that UD’s presidential search has made good progress. The search committee has carefully evaluated more than 50 applications and recently conducted in-person interviews with an impressive group of semi-finalists. We have now identified finalists for consideration by the Board of Trustees.
The caliber of our final candidates is impressive. They hold leadership positions at a variety of institutions, and as dedicated professionals are sensitive to the impact that public knowledge of their active candidacies may have on those institutions and themselves. We are committed to the integrity of our search and to respecting our commitment to these individuals to minimize any potential risk to our sister institutions or them. The Board is confident that mutual respect and consideration for confidentiality has enhanced, and will continue to enhance, the ability to attract exceptional candidates to achieve a successful search outcome.
Thus, to ensure that we can retain the best candidates with the greatest potential to lead UD successfully, the Board has chosen to conduct the final interviews in what is sometimes termed the "hybrid" approach. As such, the Board will continue taking steps to preserve the necessary confidentiality owed the candidates while expanding the review process beyond the search committee to include a broader representation of the UD community. This methodology for the next phase of the review process is described in more detail on the presidential search site.
We will be working with representatives of the faculty, students, staff, and alumni to empanel additional individuals who will interact with the candidates and provide confidential feedback to the Board. These additional representatives will be contacted as soon as possible after the holidays to ask whether they are willing to participate.
Rest assured that the Board understands that some may be disappointed not to have the opportunity to provide feedback on the merits of the finalists. Faced with a very real decision based on conditions on the ground, however, we are confident that this methodology is both tried-and-true and optimal for UD. The decision was made after prayerful reflection and analysis.
We look forward to completing the search process and announcing UD's new President.
With best wishes,
Richard Husseini
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
