Press Release - Search Committee Named for New Towson President

June 24, 2002

Search Committee Named for New Towson President

Joseph F. Vivona, interim chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM), today announced the formation of a search and screening committee to consider candidates for president of Towson University. The new president will succeed Mark L. Perkins, who resigned effective April 5, 2002.

"The search committee will conduct a thorough, comprehensive national search for a new president for Towson University," Vivona said. "They will seek out the views of many others in the Towson community and beyond in determining the best match between the new president and the university."

Jim Clements, professor of computer and information sciences and executive director of the Center for Applied Information Technology, will lead the 20-member search committee, which includes members of the faculty, staff, student body, and community.

"I am tremendously excited to lead this group on a search for the most able, talented, and forward-looking president for our institution," Clements said. "We have a diverse committee with this as our sole mission, and I am confident of a successful outcome."

The committee's task is to develop a broad and deep pool of strong candidates, conduct interviews with the candidates it deems most qualified for the presidency, and forward to the USM Board of Regents the names of three to five finalists. The Board of Regents has the responsibility of making the final selection.

Following is a list of search and screening committee members:

External:

Lone Azola, member of the Towson University Alumni Association and a Realtor with O'Conor, Piper & Flynn
Mike Gill, chair of the Towson University Board of Visitors and president of Hoyt Capital
Sen. Barbara Hoffman, member of the Maryland General Assembly
Larry Merlis, member of the Towson University Board of Visitors and president of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Jim O'Conor, member of the Towson University Board of Visitors, chairman of the board of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and senior vice president for NRT
Sherman Ragland, member of the Towson University Board of Visitors and president and CEO of Tradewinds International
Bryan Thaler, chair of the Towson University Alumni Association and an investment counselor with Van Sant and Mewshaw, Inc.

Students:

Ivy Brown, senior in health sciences
Mark Crusante, sophomore in political science
Valerie Pulbrook, graduate student in psychology

Faculty:

Carol Berkower, assistant professor of biological sciences
Ralph Blasting, chair and associate professor of theatre
Jim Clements, professor of computer and information sciences and executive director of the Center for Applied Information Technology
Jin Gong, dean of the College of Graduate Education and Research
Shohreh Kaynama, professor and chair of the Department of Marketing and e-Business
John Murungi, professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Maggie Reitz, associate professor and chair of occupational therapy and occupational science
Tim Sullivan, associate professor of economics and president of the Towson chapter of the American Association of University Professors

Staff:

Lori Armstrong, director of Alumni Relations
Jamey Kinney, program management specialist in the College of Extended Programs

Liaisons:

Pat Florestano, member of the USM Board of Regents
David Nevins, member of the USM Board of Regents
Katie Ryan, chief of staff to the USM Board of Regents

In addition to the aforementioned members, one faculty appointment is pending.

Dan L. Jones, Towson's provost and vice president of learning, has served as interim president of the university since May 3. The search process is expected to result in the appointment of a new president next January.

Contact:

Chris Hart
Phone: 301/445-2739
E-mail: chart@usmd.edu