Wright State Board of Trustees announces presidential search process

The Board of Trustees of Wright State University announced today that it will form a Presidential Search and Selection Advisory Committee to conduct a comprehensive and inclusive nationwide search for a successor to Wright State President David R. Hopkins, who announced yesterday that he will retire on June 30, 2017, at the conclusion of his contract.

The board will form a committee composed of a diverse set of representatives from throughout the university community, including trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni, as well as Wright State University Foundation and community representatives.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Michael Bridges, board chair, has appointed Douglas A. Fecher, vice chair of the Wright State Board of Trustees, to chair the Presidential Search and Selection Advisory Committee.

“The board intends to conduct a comprehensive process that will produce a highly qualified successor to President Hopkins with the experience and insight to lead WSU and build on its impressive history of achievement and success, particularly in the area of student success,” Bridges said.

The Wright State Board of Trustees is committed to an extensive and inclusive search process that will seek input on presidential qualifications from the entire campus community and region.

“We will reach out to the WSU community and beyond as we seek diverse input about our next leader and the issues in higher education that will matter most to WSU in the coming years,” Bridges said.

Bridges hailed Hopkins’ many accomplishments.

“Three years ago the board asked Dr. Hopkins to extend his contract so he could complete several initiatives, including the Rise. Shine. Campaign,” Bridges said. “Among his many other successes, the Rise. Shine. Campaign exceeded its $150 million goal several months early, the university was selected to host a presidential debate, the Neuroscience Engineering Collaboration Building is up and running, our new Student Success Center is fully operational, we just dedicated the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures, and the College of Liberal Arts just held its most successful ArtsGala ever, to name a few.”

Under Fecher’s direction, the Presidential Search and Selection Advisory Committee will begin inviting representatives from the board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, foundation and community leaders to serve. “Our first tasks will be to appoint members of the committee and identify the most important qualifications of the new president,” Fecher said.

The presidential search process is expected to conclude by the spring of 2017. Hopkins will serve through June 30, 2017.