University’s search for new leader extended

Preferred candidate for role of president turns down job offer

The search for a new president/ vice-chancellor for the University of Windsor will be pushed into the next academic year after the preferred candidate turned down the position for reasons unrelated to the school.

Current president Alan Wildeman is set to conclude his term at the end of June.

The university ’s director of public affairs and communication, John Coleman, confirmed Wildeman is still planning to depart as planned.

“He’s planning to leave June 30,” Coleman said. “There’s no change to that.

“As far as what happens in terms of carrying on, the board of governors is studying interim plans. Their statement is the board will make an announcement in the coming weeks on what will happen until a new president and vicechancellor is identified.” Coleman said the governors issued a statement after meeting Tuesday knowing the interest level in how the search for the “most important position at the university ” was coming along. The board had originally hoped to have filled the position by late January or early February.

The board of governors statement said there wasn’t enough time to restart the search and have someone in place by the end of June. “Even though there are a number of presidential searches happening provincially and nationally, the opportunity at Windsor is highly attractive, and the board has advised the search committee to renew its efforts in the coming academic year,” the board of governors’ statement said. “The search committee remains committed to identifying the candidate who best fits the position profile and mandate that were developed through wide community consultation.”