The search committee established by University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano to consider candidates for the position of provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at CU-Boulder has recommended a single candidate to be considered for the position: Robert Sternberg. Sternberg currently serves as the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University.
Todd Gleeson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at CU-Boulder and chair of the search committee, described the process that resulted in the recommendation of Sternberg.
"The search committee reviewed 58 applications for the position," said Gleeson. "After careful and rigorous consideration, the committee identified eight semifinalists and scheduled preliminary interviews. Immediately prior to the interviews, three of the semifinalists opted for other positions."
Gleeson said the committee, composed of 21 faculty, staff and students, then interviewed the remaining five semifinalists. After the interviews, two individuals emerged as strong candidates with outstanding scholarly accomplishments and extensive administrative experience.
"One of these candidates subsequently withdrew," said Gleeson. "After much deliberation, the search committee decided unanimously to go forward and recommend Dr. Robert Sternberg as a single finalist, given his strong record of accomplishments."
According to Gleeson, "Dr. Sternberg is an academic psychologist of the highest order. He also has a proven track record of promoting research excellence, student access and campus diversity. He offers a unique combination of strengths that the search committee felt should be brought to the campus for its consideration."
Sternberg will visit the Boulder campus during the week of April 12 and interview with campus faculty, staff, students and administrators. The schedule of campus interviews and Sternberg's curriculum vita are posted on the search website at www.colorado.edu/chancellor/provostsearch.
Following the campus visit, DiStefano will solicit and review feedback from campus faculty, staff, students, administrators and the search committee. The chancellor may then choose to offer the position to Sternberg, ask the search committee to consider additional candidates, or appoint a new interim provost, since Stein Sture, the current interim provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, plans to return to his position as vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate school at the end of this academic year.
"This is a vital position that presides over our academic mission and requires both strong vision and administrative acumen," said DiStefano. "I applaud the committee for its diligence and hard work in identifying candidates, and I look forward to Dr. Sternberg's visit, as does our entire campus community."
Robert Sternberg. Photo courtesy Tufts University