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Wayne State University

Dear colleagues,

As you know, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Keith E. Whitfield left Wayne State University just prior to the start of the fall semester to assume the presidency at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We are very fortunate that Laurie M. Lauzon Clabo has agreed to serve as interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs during the search for Provost Whitfield's successor. That search has now begun in earnest. I have appointed a 12-member advisory committee chaired by Dr. Jack Sobel, who completed his term as dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for health affairs earlier this year. I am writing to ask for your participation in this important effort.

The provost is the chief academic officer of the university, and is responsible for policies and decisions related to instruction, academic programs and curriculum, faculty appointments and performance, research (in collaboration with the Division of Research), public service, and academic and student support services. The provost is our second-ranking executive officer and acts on my behalf in overseeing the university in my absence. The successful candidate will have significant experience in higher education administration — including leadership experience at research institutions — and be committed to an urban mission.

We are using several avenues to seek qualified candidates for this position, including retaining the services of a highly respected search consultant, advertisements in the Chronicle of Higher Education and other higher education periodicals, and contacts with our colleagues at institutions across the nation. If you would like to nominate an individual for consideration, please forward the name, a copy of the vitae (if available) and a letter indicating why you feel this individual should be considered to waynestateprovost@wittkieffer.com. The job description for this position, further information about the search consultants, and the roster for the search committee is available at provost.wayne.edu/search.

Thank you for your assistance in this search, and for your continued commitment to the university.

M. Roy Wilson

M. Roy Wilson
President