University President Lee Bollinger announced this week that a search committee has been formed to fill the position of University provost.
The 11-person Provost Search Advisory Committee was appointed by Bollinger to replace current University Provost J. Bernard Machen, who announced in April he wanted to step-down from his position when his contract expires in August. The committee consists of 10 faculty members and one student.
The Provost Search Advisory Committee, headed by Bollinger, has already met once and has another meeting scheduled this week.
"I'm really hoping to do this within two to three months," Bollinger said.
Anthropology Prof. Richard Ford, who was appointed to serve on the search committee, said he realizes the urgency of finding a person to fill the position of second-in-command of the University.
"We would like to go through the process with diligence and care, but we realize that it would be very good to have a provost on board by the start of the school year," said Ford.
Ford said the committee's work is cut out for them in a "quick period of time."
"It's going to really depend on the richness of the candidates and the quality of outside recommendations for each and every one of them," he said.
Bollinger said the search will be extensive and spread to candidates nationwide.
Ford said that although the committee is looking externally for potential candidates, the University is not lacking quality people to fill Machen's post.
"We have wonderful faculty and deans and other administrators that certainly deserve consideration," Ford said. "We have to look both places."
Pharmacy and Medical School Prof. Michael Marletta, who is also serving on the committee, said the provost probably holds the key internal position for the University's functioning.
"It's a tough job," Marletta said. "If we had selection criteria written down, it would probably be a long list."
Bollinger said he is extremely pleased with the diversity of distinguished people who have agreed to serve on the committee.
Machen said last month he may be interested in returning to the University's faculty after fulfilling his administrative position in August. Before he took on the role of University Provost in 1995, Machen served as the Dean of School of Dentistry under former University President James Duderstadt.