OU names finalists in presidential search

Anna Millar News Staff Writer

The chair of the Ohio University Board of Trustees and Presidential Search Committee announced the three finalists following OU’s presidential search on Monday morning.

The finalists are Susana Rivera-Mills, who currently serves as the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Ball State University; Lori Stewart Gonzalez, who currently works as the executive vice president and provost at the University of Louisville; and Avinandan Mukherjee, the current provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Marshall University.

According to a release from the Presidential Search Committee and Board of Trustees Chair Peggy Viehweger, members of the Athens and OU communities will have the opportunity to attend forums for each candidate prior to a selection being made.

OU’s Presidential Search Committee, which was formed in September 2022, chose the three finalists. Each of the three finalists has worked in administrative positions at other universities.

“The search has been intense, and every member of the committee has been fully engaged,” Viehweger said. “I believe we have incorporated the information collected from the community and lived up to finding candidates who match our criteria.”

If either Susana Rivera-Mills or Lori Stewart Gonzalez are selected, they would become OU’s first female president.

The first open forum will take place March 1 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Baker University Center Theater and will feature the first of the three finalists, Rivera-Mills.

Rivera-Mills has held the position of provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Ball State University since July 2018, according to BSU’s website. At BSU, Rivera-Mills works on enrollment management, implementing the university’s learning initiatives and advancing inclusivity.

Rivera-Mills is a first-generation student and has worked to create academic accessibility for all students in her work, according to the BSU website.

The second open forum, featuring finalist Mukherjee, will take place March 7 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Baker University Center Theater.

Mukherjee has held the position of provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Marshall University since April 2022. In his current role, Mukherjee is responsible for multiple departments, including all academic and student affairs, according to his biography on MU’s website. One of his responsibilities includes managing $97.5 million for academic expenditures and $50 million for research purposes, according to MU’s website.

Mukherjee’s international professional background, having taught in nine countries, brings a unique perspective to his work, according to MU’s website. He has worked as a full-time faculty member in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and India.

The third open forum will highlight Gonzalez on March 8 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Baker University Center Theater.

She has held the position of executive vice president and provost at the University of

Louisville since April 2021 and has held academic roles at many other universities. Gonzalez is responsible for working with faculty, students and staff to manage the university’s day-to-day and long-term academic goals, according to the UL website.

Prior to her time at UL, Gonzalez served in administrative roles at the University of Kentucky, Appalachian State University and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, according to UL’s website.

Feedback surveys for the finalists will be available on the OU Presidential Search Committee’s website until March 9 at 11 p.m., and the final candidate will be selected and appointed in April. @ANNAMILLAR16