The search for the next FHSU Provost continues as fall semester comes to a close

The search for Fort Hays State University’s next provost will continue on into 2015 with final contenders potentially being selected in late December.

The Provost search began in Oct. of last year with the resignation Larry Gould, who served as Provost for 15 years. After just over a year, the search continues and the search committee is expected to choose finalists very soon.

“This has been a very routine search,” said Mark Bannister, head of the search committee and dean of the college of business and entrepreneurship. “The search has gone smoothly, and the committee will consider finalists for the position in late December.”

The search committee is composed of faculty, staff, and student organization leadership.

Committee Members


Dean of the College of Business & Entrepreneurship


Mark Bannister


Dean of the College of Arts & Science


Paul Faber


Dean of Forsyth Library


Deborah Ludwig


Chair of the Allied Health Department


Brenda Hoopingarner


Associate Professor of English


Michael Meade


Assistant Professor of Physics


Eric Deyo


Associate Professor of Communication Studies


Linn Ann Huntington


SGA President


Arin Powers


Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs


Keegan Nichols


Executive Director of Alumni and Governmental Relations


Debra Prideaux


Assistant Professor of Music


Matt Means


In addition to a committee composed of faculty staff, and students, surveys were sent out and posted to the FHSU website in an effort to gather student and staff feedback to establish a profile for the new provost.

“A wide range of preferences and opinions were received through the surveys,” Bannister said. “Most people desire a candidate with experience, vision, strong communication skills, leadership skills, a commitment to transparency and an interest in internationalism.”

According to Bannister finalists should be on campus meeting with faculty, staff, students and organizations early in the 2015 spring semester, and the newly chosen Provost should be able to start soon thereafter.

“We are hoping that the new Provost will start June 1st, if not earlier than that,” Bannister said. “It all depends on how difficult the final decision is.”

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