Dear AU Community,

I write today to announce the launch of the searches for American University’s next provost and chief academic officer and the vice president of advancement.

Over the past several weeks, I have been working with the leadership of the Faculty Senate to develop a framework for the search for our next provost and chief academic officer. Following today’s formal announcement of this search, the Faculty Senate will initiate a 21-day process to work with each of AU’s schools to identify six faculty members who will serve on the Provost Search Committee.

At the same time, we will work with AU students and staff to identify two staff members and two students to serve on the committee. In addition, I will identify up to six members of university leadership to be part of the committee. We also will retain a search firm to help find outstanding candidates in what will be a robust, national search.

This process is an important demonstration of our commitment to shared governance. I want to thank Faculty Senate leadership for its partnership in developing this process. I also want to thank Acting Provost and Chief Academic Officer Vicky Wilkins for her dedication and vision as she continues to serve in this role. In the coming weeks, I will provide an update with the final composition of the search committee for AU’s next provost and chief academic officer.

We are also close to launching the search for our next vice president of advancement. This search will be guided by a search firm with fundraising leadership expertise, as well as a search committee that will include members of our university community who work closely with this position—such as representatives of our academic, financial, and legal leadership; alumni leadership; Board of Trustees; and faculty, which will be determined in coordination with the Faculty Senate leadership. I would like to thank Dan Luperchio for stepping forward to serve as interim vice president of advancement.

I hope to complete both searches by the end of the academic year. I will be back in touch with further updates soon.

With best wishes,

Jonathan R. Alger
President