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Photo of students walking outside of Old Main on NAU campus.

Board Chair appoints NAU Presidential Search Advisory Committee leadership, solicits community input for the next NAU President

(Phoenix, Ariz.) – As preparations begin for a nationwide search for the next president of Northern Arizona University, Arizona Board of Regents Chair Larry E. Penley appointed Regent Lyndel Manson and Regent Fred DuVal as co-chairs of the ABOR Search Advisory Committee for the next NAU president. Advisory committee members will be appointed at a later date.

“I am confident that Regents Manson and DuVal will be outstanding leaders of the search advisory committee and believe their commitment to NAU and Northern Arizona will be tremendous assets as we begin this important search process,” said Chair Penley. “I extend my sincere appreciation to them and am confident they will devote the time necessary for a successful search.”

As part of the search process, the board announced today that they will invite NAU stakeholders – students, faculty, staff, community and business leaders, tribal leaders, residents and the public – to share their vision on NAU’s future and their feedback on important leadership characteristics for the next NAU president.

“Widespread conversations with the many NAU constituents will be an essential part of this search process and will help us guide the future of this honored and important university, as well as shape the list of qualifications and characteristics the board seeks in the next president of NAU. The insights and feedback from constituents and the board will ultimately inform and contribute to the future success of NAU,” said ABOR Chair Larry E. Penley. “I expect them to begin in the next days,” he added.

The board encourages constituents to share their vision for NAU with the board by sending comments to Future.NAU@azregents.edu throughout the search process. In the days ahead, the board will take the next steps in the search process, including issuing a request for proposals for a national firm to conduct the search, establishing a search advisory committee and adopting search guidelines. A webpage has been established on the ABOR website for the public to access information detailing news about the search progress.

Earlier this week, the board announced NAU President Rita Cheng’s decision not to seek an extension to her current contract as president.

Contacts:

Sarah Harper, 602-229-2542, 602-402-1341 | Sarah.K.Harper@azregents.edu