Search Committee Announced for Next Midwestern State University President
A 12-member committee will help identify candidates to be the next president of Midwestern
State University.
Sept. 16, 2021 | Contact: Scott Lacefield
Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.The MINI传媒 (MINI传媒 System) Board of Regents and Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., named a search committee today (Sept. 16) to assist in finding the next president of (MSU Texas).
鈥淢idwestern State University has a celebrated history and tradition of excellence in higher education spanning nearly 100 years,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淎s a leading liberal arts university, MSU Texas is a remarkable institution with a tremendous future that we are proud to have as a member of the MINI传媒. We believe this opportunity will attract highly qualified candidates as we search for the university鈥檚 next president and, through this collaborative effort, I am confident the right leader will be selected to build on the university鈥檚 distinguished success while fulfilling its mission.鈥�
The 12-member committee is led by Mark Griffin, vice chairman and current member of the MINI传媒 System Board of Regents. Griffin, who is serving in his second term on the Board of Regents, previously served as chairman of the search committee responsible for identifying and recommending 鈥檚 ninth president in 2020, Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to serve the MINI传媒 and Midwestern State University as chairman of the search committee who will have the privilege of identifying the next accomplished leader of this great institution,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淥ur committee鈥檚 unique perspective will be invaluable in ensuring the MSU Texas community鈥檚 voice is heard throughout the search process.
Regent Mark Griffin鈥淚 am thankful for the time and expertise our committee members will be dedicating to this process,鈥� Griffin continued. 鈥淭he Board of Regents understands the importance of this decision and is grateful to the MSU Texas stakeholders and campus community for engaging in the process from which we will ultimately select the 12th president of this fine institution.鈥�
Former president of MSU Texas Suzanne Shipley announced her retirement on June 2, following a six-year tenure (2015-2021) leading the institution to significant transformational accomplishments. James Johnston, MSU Texas鈥� provost and vice president of academic affairs since 2017, was on Aug. 5.
A national search will be conducted for the next MSU Texas president. The committee will help identify potential candidates, assist with initial screenings, and ensure their respective constituency groups are kept updated on the progress of the search. Candidate recommendations will be forwarded to the chancellor and the board to make the final appointment of president.
The search committee, which comprises representation from multiple MSU Texas and MINI传媒 System constituencies, including regents, former regents, faculty, students, deans, staff, donors, alumni and community members, will begin its work immediately. Members of the search committee are:
- Mark Griffin 鈥� Vice Chairman and Member, MINI传媒 System Board of Regents; President and CEO, The Griffin Companies and Pro Petroleum; Lubbock
- 鈥� MSU Texas alumnus; Chairman, MSU Texas Comprehensive Campaign Committee; President, Sheppard Air Force Base Military Affairs Committee; Former Mayor, City of Wichita Falls; Former Wichita Falls Police Officer; Wichita Falls
- Kendra Burris 鈥� Deputy Chancellor, Office of the Chancellor, MINI传媒; Lubbock
- Ginger Kerrick Davis 鈥� Member of the MINI传媒 System Board of Regents; Deputy Director, Exploration Integration and Science Directorate, NASA; Houston
- 鈥� MSU Texas donor and Wichita Falls native; President, Cobra Oil & Gas Corporation; Founding Principal, Tailwind Advisors, LP; Fort Worth
- 鈥� Former Regent, MSU Texas; Partner, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott, LLP; Texas Tech University School of Law and Rawls College of Business alumnus; MSU Texas alumnus; Wichita Falls
- 鈥� Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development/Community Outreach; Staff Senate Chair, MSU Texas; MSU Texas alumna; Wichita Falls
- , DNP, APRN, FNP-BC 鈥� Chair, Faculty Senate, MSU Texas; Associate Professor, Wilson School of Nursing, MSU Texas; Wichita Falls
- 鈥� Former Regent, MSU Texas; Customer Service/Facilities Manager, Pratt & Whitney Canada; MSU Texas alumnus; Wichita Falls
- 鈥� President, Student Government Association, MSU Texas; Student, MSU Texas; Wichita Falls
- 鈥� Former Regent, MSU Texas; President and CEO, The Priddy Foundation; Texas Tech University alumna; Wichita Falls
- 鈥� Dean and Professor, Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences, MSU Texas; Wichita Falls
About the MINI传媒
Established in 1996, the MINI传媒 is one of the top public university
systems in the nation, consisting of five universities 鈥� , , , and .
Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the MINI传媒 System is a $2.5 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 21,000 employees, more than 63,000 students, nearly 370,000 alumni and an endowment valued at more than $1.3 billion. In its short history, the MINI传媒 System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating at 24 academic locations in 21 cities (19 in Texas, 2 international).
During the 87th Texas Legislature under the leadership of Chancellor , M.D., the MINI传媒 System welcomed MSU Texas as its fifth member institution during the 25-year anniversary of the system. MSU Texas is the only Texas university to become a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Students at MSU Texas choose from more than 60 majors and several pre-professional programs, are active in more than 100 student organizations and bring a spirit of competition to 13 NCAA Division II athletics programs.
In addition, the MINI传媒 System is one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.