Truman State searches for new president and faculty members

Truman State University’s Board of Governors is currently seeking a search firm to find the next University president. Simultaneously, department heads review their faculty needs for the upcoming school year. 

General Counsel Mark Herrmann said the Board of Governor is responsible for finding the University’s next president. He said the Board is currently working to hire a search firm. 

To find one, the Board issued a request for proposals and received submissions from several firms interested in leading the search. Herrmann said the Board expects to settle on a firm by the end of September, with the final decision going to a Board vote.

Tentatively, the Board of Governors will issue the presidential leadership statement and advertisements in October, as well as naming the stakeholder advisory group. Herrmann said that stakeholders will have a voice in the decision to select the next University president, but only the Board can make the selection.

Herrmann said the Board will listen to feedback from different stakeholders, including students. 

“Even though the Board is the decision maker, they’re going to be wanting to hear from all the constituent groups at the University,” Herrmann said. “Students will have a voice, faculty will have a voice, even staff will have a voice. They want to get the person that is the right fit.”

The final candidates will be selected for interviews January through February. Final interviews with the search committee are set for February. The next president is currently scheduled to be announced in February or March 2027. 

Herrmann said that there is a plan to have a stakeholder advisory group that will include group representatives from Truman students, faculty and Kirksville residents.

This process differs from the University’s human resources hiring process. Melissa Garzanelli, director of human resources, said the deans reviewed enrollment and staffing needs with the Provost’s Office each Fall semester.

Garzanelli said positions are shared internally first. If there is no interest, she said postings are advertised externally for 30 days for non-tenure-track and 45 days for tenure-track. She said each search gets its own committee where department chairs and deans choose their members, and offers are given out in around February or March.

Each staff and faculty is screened in house by someone within Human Resources. Garzanelli said human resources does not use artificial intelligence during their hiring process and each application is reviewed by a person.  

“I personally am not comfortable with [artificial intelligence] because I’ve heard too many stories about AI inadvertently discriminating,” Garzanelli said. “And that’s one of the things we’re very careful about. We are equal opportunity employers, so we want to make sure we’re doing our due diligence.” 

There are three interim positions being held this year: Stephen Hudman, interim dean of the School of Science and Mathematics, Brian Lamp, interim associate dean of the School of Science and Mathematics and Amy Norgard, interim chair of communication and theatre arts.