2025-2026 Presidential Search

CAMPUS VISITS:

Candidate 3:  Monday, February 9, 2026

Candidate 4:  Tuesday, February 10, 2026

• 9:30 – 10:40 a.m. – Dedicated session for staff
• 1:35 – 3 p.m. – Presentation session and Q&A that is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and  members of our community.
• 3:10 – 4:20 p.m. – Dedicated session for faculty

The staff and faculty sessions will be held in the Robert C. Byrd CHE auditorium. The open session will take place in the Storer Ballroom, located on the third floor of the Student Center.

The Search Process

The Shepherd University Board of Governors adopted a set of procedures for the 2025-26 Presidential Search. The process features:

1. Form a search committee and hire a consultant to assist with the search.  [Completed]
2. Gather feedback from university employees, students, and community members on the desired qualities of Shepherd University’s next president.  [Completed]
3. Based on this input, a draft Presidential Profile/Statement of Leadership is developed. [Completed]
4. Prepare position announcement and post in appropriate outlets, such as the Chronicle of Higher Education. [Completed]
5. Consultant screens applicants for minimum qualifications and completes two lists: a: Those meeting the minimum qualifications and b: Those that don’t (with reasons listed for each candidate). [Completed]
6. Search committee reviews screened applicants and selects up to ten semi-finalists, whose references are checked by the consultant. [Completed]
7. Search committee interviews semi-finalists at a neutral off-campus location (Completed).
8. Search committee determines 4-6 finalist candidates who are each invited to the campus for interviews.
9. Search committee reviews input and sends its recommendations (up to three unranked finalists) to the Board of Governors for its review.
10. Board of Governors selects the desired finalist. It may determine the order of back-up if the first choice is unavailable.
11. Optional: Visit to the successful candidate’s campus/place of work
12. Finalist signs a contract with a mutually agreed-upon starting date.

Read the Procedures

Presidential Profile and Advertisement

Nominations should be directed to the Search Consultant, Dr. Brad Gottfried:  bradgottfried@gmail.com .

The Search Committee

• Search Committee Chair: Austin J. Slater, Jr.
• Search Committee Vice Chair: Susan Mentzer-Blair
• James M. Cherry, Ph.D.
• Amy L. DeWitt, Ph.D.
• Melanie Ford
• Tyler Furbee
• Chad Hartman
• Andrew Patterson
• Laura Robertson, Ph.D.
• Danielle Stephenson
• Search Committee Consultant: Dr. Brad Gottfried
  Staff support:           General Counsel, Alan Perdue