The committee has been named that will recruit Memorial University’s next permanent vice-president (academic) and pro vice-chancellor.

Since the summer of 2009, the position has been filled pro tempore by Dr. Reeta Tremblay, who will be leaving Memorial later this year to become vice-president (academic) at the University of Victoria.

Dr. Gary Kachanoski, Memorial’s president and vice-chancellor, is chairing the committee, which includes faculty, staff and students.

“The vice-president (academic) is a pivotal leadership role at any university,” he said. “At Memorial the vice-president (academic) and pro vice-chancellor also serves as a member of the Board of Regents. So filling this position is one of my main priorities, and I’m looking forward to working with the committee and the university community to that end.”

The representatives chosen for the search committee from faculty include: Dr. Jennifer Lokash, English; Dr. Ann Dorward, Medicine; Dr. Martin Mulligan, Biochemistry; Dr. Ivan Emke, Grenfell College; and Dr. Walter Okshevsky, Education.

Appointed from the deans and academic directors group are: Dr. Linda Hensman, director, School of Pharmacy; and Dr. Mark Abrahams, dean, Faculty of Science.

Appointed from the administrators group is Dr. Penny Blackwood, director, Alumni Affairs and Development.

The student representatives are Nathan Wilke, representing graduate students, and Michael Walsh representing undergrads.

Rounding out the search committee is Glenn Blackwood, executive director of Memorial’s Marine Institute.

To facilitate its work, the committee has contracted the services of Janet Wright and Associates, one of the country’s top higher education executive search firms.

The committee is commencing its work immediately and Dr. Kachanoski said that the search will continue through the fall semester.

As the search for the vice-president (academic) and pro vice-chancellor proceeds, opportunities for input, consultation and participation will be communicated and information will be available at  http://www.mun.ca/president/VPAsearch.php.