ULM Faculty Senate President: "Constituencies... Do Not Want Dr. Bruno"
"I'll just be quite straighforward. The vast majority of constituencies who spoke with me do not want Dr. Bruno to be their next president." Search committe member and faculty senate president Dr. Anna Hill says that feedback prompted her to present a substitute motion during the committe's meeting earlier today to determine finalists for the University of Louisiana at Monroe presidency.
After noting that Dr. William Berry withdrew from consideration, a motion was made for the three remaining candidates, Nick Bruno, Peter Fos and Thomas Moore, to move forward in the process. Hill offered the substitute motion that only two finalists be recommended to the full board, but the motion failed. She says constituents have commented while they appreciate the vast business and financial background of Bruno, "They think that he does not have the breadth of experience that is necessary for a president of ULM."
As the faculty representative of the search committee, Hill asked each of the semifinalist candidates for their views on research and the support for faculty in those endeavors. She says instructors across campus want a president to be committed to academics. "They feel that it's time for academics to be the focus of the institution. Even in the presence of financial crisis, academics is the point of a university."
Earlier in the day Hill had sent an email to faculty asking for attendance at today's meeting. She says between meetings it was noted that there were some people trying to use political sway for their favorite candidate. She says faculty members want to see the process not politicized.
The three finalists will now interview before the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors on October 22 in Baton Rouge. At the conclusion of those interviews the board is expected to decide who will become the next president of ULM.