Pitt administrator withdrew from troubled UMass chancellor search

A search for a new chancellor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, that had narrowed to three finalists — including a University of Pittsburgh administrator — was scuttled after faculty representatives challenged their credentials andall three withdrew.

Leadership searches on college campuses sometimes fail, and individual candidates have been known to withdraw at the last minute, suddenly altering the trajectory of deliberations.

But the departure of all finalists was an unusual twist in a campus ritual that typically is structured to include representation from all stakeholders, but nevertheless often draws complaints that some views —particularly those of professors — arenot adequately considered.

In this case, challenges were raised to the finalists and the search process itself.

Among the three finalists was Kathy Humphrey, Pitt senior vice chancellor for engagement, who also is secretary of the board of trustees and an associate professor in the School of Education.

Also on the short list were Peter Lyons, vice provost and dean of Perimeter College at Georgia State University, and Jack Thomas, president of Western Illinois University.

A campus spokeswoman at UMass was not immediately available Tuesday for comment, nor was Ms. Humphrey.

UMass acknowledged the failed search in a statement posted to the campus website.

“It is with profound disappointment that I write to inform you that all three finalists recommended by the UMass Boston Chancellor Search Committee have withdrawn from consideration, bringing to an unceremonious end a sevenmonth search process,’’ said UMass president Martin Meehan.

He said that after the finalists visited the campus last week, “the UMass Boston Faculty Council decided to take their dissatisfaction with the candidates public, questioning the personal and professional qualifications of three accomplished higher education leaders and demonstrating that the faculty council would not participate in the kind of partnership necessary for a new chancellor to succeed.”

All three conveyed “extreme disappointment” and said they were no longer interested in being considered.

Mr. Meehan said the candidates were asked to visit so he could gather confidential feedback from the campus community that would help him decide which name to recommend to the board of trustees.

“I was mortified when the candidates’ commitment and qualifications were questioned in public forums, including the news media and social media,” Mr. Meehan said.

“I have apologized personally to each of them on behalf of the campus community. I know the majority of you do not support the sensationalized critiques of these candidates’ professional and academic qualifications and accomplishments,” his statement said.

The University of Massachusetts is the Commonwealth’s public research university system, and includes UMass Boston and campuses in Amherst, Dartmouth, Lowell and the UMass Medical School in Worcester. UMass Boston has 14,000 undergraduates, according to the school’s enrollment managementwebsite.

The unusual outcome has cast a spotlight on the search that extends well beyond Boston. The Chronicle of Higher Education noted that “widespread use of search consultants, the decline in shared governance, and the politicization of higher education have all contributed to the marginalization of faculty input in searches.”

Mr. Meehan said there were calls to reopen the search. But after soliciting views including those of the search consultant, he said he was assured it would be futile to do so at this time. The campus for now will be headed by an interim leader.

“The search just completed was both exhaustive and comprehensive. Every avenue was pursued. Both traditional and non-traditional candidates were considered,” he said. “There is no untapped pool of talent awaiting a call.

“But perhaps more significant, the very public way this search came to an end, with threefinalists all withdrawing inthe face of public opposition from members of the campus, renders a new search untenableat this time.”