A Dunn Deal?

From the Herald:

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Committee selects Dunn to lead WMU

Sara Johnson

John Dunn, interim chancellor of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, has been determined as the sole finalist for Western Michigan University's next president.

This decision was unanimous by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees, said Ken Miller, chair of the search committee.

"He has a very low wall of accessibility [meaning he's] very easily accessible to students, faculty and staff. That seems to be his reputation where he's at, and that seemed to be the way he presented himself while he was here," Miller said. Dunn visited campus from April 8 to 10.

Miller, as well as fellow trustees Sarah DeNooyer and Bill Johnston, plan to visit Dunn's campus on Wednesday to begin contract negotiations.

If the site visit and contract negotiations go well, Miller hopes to complete the appointment of president by the end of next week.

Both Dunn's academic and administrative experience and his credentials qualified him for this position, Miller said.

"For eight months of work, after literally thousands of man hours, investigation, résumé reading and interviewing, I firmly believe that we have the person we are looking for," Miller said.

Dunn was named as SIUC's interim chancellor in November 2006, and was previously provost and vice chancellor since 2002. He taught for 30 years and was a dean of the University of Utah's College of Health from 1995 to 2002.

Prior to that, he was at Oregon State University for 20 years as the director of the university's Special Physical and Motor Fitness Clinic, chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science from 1980 to 1987, assistant dean of Health and Human Performance from 1987 to 1990 and associate provost from 1990 to 1995.

Dunn began his career teaching at the University of Connecticut in 1972. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in special education from Northern Illinois University in 1967 and 1969, respectively. He earned his doctoral degree in physical education from Brigham Young University in 1972.

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The Gazette covers the story.

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