The University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, named current Shippensburg University President William Ruud as its 10th president on Thursday, Feb. 7, after deliberation among the Iowa Board of Regents.
Ruud, who has been SU president for six years, met with the Board Thursday at the West Des Moines Sheraton Hotel. There was one other candidate interviewed the same day for the same position.
Ruud will begin his duties as UNI president on June 1, and will be paid an annual salary of $340,000.
The current UNI President Ben Allen had announced in August 2012 he would be retiring in 2013 after having served as UNI president for seven years.
“Ship is a truly unique university. It is, as I always say, the flagship of PASSHE so the decision to become a candidate for the UNI presidency was made only after much thought and review,” Ruud said in an email to the SU community Friday, Feb. 8.
Ruud said a strong personal attraction of UNI is its location in the Midwest, which will bring him closer to his family and hometown.
“As excited as I am about this new opportunity, I am equally sad at leaving what has been my home for the past six years,” Ruud said.
One of the most important questions now is: who will take on SU’s presidency after Ruud leaves?
Kenn Marshall, media relations manager of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), said searching for a president is a lengthy process. It usually takes about six months or more.
An interim president will serve in place after the previous president leaves and before a new one is permanently hired. Marshall said the search process begins at the campus level.
“The university’s Council of Trustees appoints a search committee, which includes representatives from a variety of campus constituencies, including trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni. The search committee usually works with an executive search consultant to identify potential candidates and conduct the initial interviews,” Marshall said.
The candidates who are then chosen from the interviews will come to SU for a series of meetings.
Out of those candidates, the search committee will choose three final candidates to recommend to the Council of Trustees, who must approve and submit them to the Office of the Chancellor.
The Board of Governors completes the process with final interviews and finally, selection of a new president.
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