Finalists Announced in Search for next President of Alaska Pacific University

The Presidential Search Committee for Alaska Pacific University has released the names of the finalists in their search for a new president. The current APU President, Dr. Douglas North is leaving in January 2010 to take a six month sabbatical prior to beginning his new position as Head of Schools at Albany Academies in New York.

The search for a new president began in 2008 and is managed by a Presidential Search Committee appointed by the APU Board of Trustees and chaired by Dr. Charlie Fahl, former Academic Dean of APU and current trustee. Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer is assisting and advising the committee in the presidential search effort.

 “We received over 60 applications for the position, and from that group, interviewed 13 semi-finalists last week,” said PSC Chair Dr. Charlie Fahl. “All of the semi-finalists were exceptional, and the five finalists are the cream of that very good crop,” said Fahl.

The five finalists to be the 9th President of Alaska Pacific University and the dates of their campus visit are:

• Dr. Betsy Vogel Boze, former Campus Dean and CEO
  Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH
  Monday & Tuesday November 16th & 17th

• Ms. Bernice Joseph, Vice-Chancellor Rural, Community & Native Education
  University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK
  Thursday & Friday November 19th & 20th

• Dr. Don Bantz, Academic Vice President & Provost
  Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
  Monday & Tuesday November 23rd & 24th

• Dr. J. Andy Sheppard, Academic Vice President
  Southwestern College, Winfield, KS
  Monday & Tuesday November 30th & December 1st

• Dr. Steven Corey, Executive Vice President
  Prescott College, Prescott, AZ
  Thursday & Friday December 3rd & 4th

During each finalist’s campus visit, they will spend time with the Board of Trustees, Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni. Following those visits, the Board of Trustees will discuss the candidates and at their regularly scheduled meeting on December 10, 2009, determine their top candidate and authorize negotiations on terms of engagement.

“We expect to be announcing the next President for APU in early January 2010,” said Harry McDonald, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “The process has been well managed by Dr. Fahl, the Presidential Search Committee and Witt/Kieffer, and we’re thrilled to have such a fine group of finalists from which to select our next President,” said McDonald.