It's Official

From the Gazette:

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Consider it Dunn

WMU trustees plan to complete presidential search process today

Western Michigan University's board is expected to appoint John M. Dunn today as the university's eighth president.

When WMU started its search for a new president last fall, the next president was described as one who could grow enrollment, be fiscally astute, foster positive campus morale and support diversity.

"You shake it all up and what falls out is John Dunn,'' Ken Miller, head of the presidential search committee, said on April 16, after it was announced that Dunn would be the only finalist in the pool trustees would consider.

Miller, the board's vice chairman, also described Dunn as the most complete candidate of the three who came to campus.

Dunn, along with two other presidential candidates, was in Kalamazoo earlier this month for interviews and public presentations.

When the candidates left, a short list emerged, and Dunn was the only person on it.

Last week, some trustees visited Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where Dunn is interim chancellor, for additional fact-finding and to start contract talks, according to WMU university-relations officials.

Trustees "left with the same impression: They felt affirmed'' in their selection of Dunn, Miller said.

The 61-year-old could be in his new office at Western Michigan University as soon as July.

"I've been in higher education now for over 30 years, and I have been at, throughout my career, leading research institutions, and Western Michigan University has a very impressive history,'' Dunn told the Kalamazoo Gazette earlier this month.

"I think its future is indeed quite bright, and I think I match (WMU) very well with the kind of experiences and background that I have,'' he said.

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