The University of Findlay Board of Trustees is initiating a search for a person to become president of the University in the fall of 2010 to replace Dr. DeBow Freed, who has served as president since 2003.

A professional search firm has been engaged to assist in the search. Planned timing of the search process includes identifying and assessing candidates in the fall of 2009, interviewing in the first quarter of 2010, and making the appointment in the late spring to be effective for the fall of 2010.

The search committee will be chaired by Dr. C. Richard Beckett, who is chair of the Board of Trustees. The search committee consists of trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, a student, and a community member.

Dr. Beckett noted that the presidential transition and search is in the context that the trustees invited Dr. Freed to become president of the University in 2003 to deal with current needs, help establish a clear direction for the University for the future, and assist in organizing the search for a long-term president who would bring strong leadership to the University in the future.

Two years ago, trustees invited Dr. Freed to continue until 2010, with a general plan of undertaking a search to have a new president for the fall of 2010.

Dr.  Beckett said: “We are confident that we will have strong candidates and will be able to appoint a highly capable person to serve as the next president of the University. We have made great progress and expect the next president to guide the University’s continued forward movement.”