A 27 member presidential search committee is expected to be finalized this week. (Stephanie Pawlowski/WJBC)

By Stephanie Pawlowski

NORMAL - So far, 19 of 27 Illinois State Presidential Search team members have been named.

ISU Spokesman Jay Groves said he expects all members to be in place toward the end of this week. The board has used the shared governance philosophy to build the committee.

"The shared governance constituents, that would be the faculty, staff members and students select their own representatives by various processes to serve on the search committee," Groves said.

The Alumni Association Board, Foundation Board and ISU athletics also select a representative.

The list includes Michael McCuskey, Trustee (Chair); Anne Davis, Trustee; J.D. Bergman, Trustee; Bob Dobski, Trustee; Rocky Donahue, Trustee; Betty Kinser, Trustee; Joanne Maitland, Trustee; Aaron Von Qualen, Trustee; Dan Holland, Academic Senate Chair; Amelia Noel-Elkins, Administrative Professional Representative; Susan Woollen , Administrative Professional Representative; Lois Soeldner, Civil Service Representative; Jean Darnall, Civil Service Representative; Freddie Alvarado, Undergraduate Student Representative; Scott Mitchell, Graduate Student Representative; Larry Lyons, Athletics Representative; Jeff Wood, Deans Representative; Greg Ayers, Alumni Association Board Representative; Carl Sneed, Foundation Board Representative.

The search firm hired by the Board of Trustees last month, Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. will bring in candidates for the committee to consider, starting in the next few weeks.

"They have a national understanding of positions in higher education, administrative presidential provost positions in higher education and who might be good candidates for a move to a university like Illinois State," Groves said.

But, trustees or committee members do have the power to suggest potential candidates.

"If any member of the Board of Trustees identifies someone who they think might be a good candidate, they would certainly say something to the search committee so that person's resume could be included in the mix," Groves said.

The goal is to have a president on campus by the beginning of August. Groves said finalists will likely be announced in late April to make campus visits.

Groves said he's not aware of any short list.

President Al Bowman announced his retirement in December 2012, citing health concerns. He has been president of ISU for nine years.

Stephanie Pawlowski can be reached at Stephanie.Pawlowski@Cumulus.com.