Top Recruiter Withdraws from ISU Presidential Search

**cigaretteman** · 06-07-2011, 02:01 PM

A leading search firm with extensive experience in Iowa has withdrawn its proposal to recruit Iowa State University’s next president, because it received an offer from another land grant university.
Bill Funk, president and founder of R. William Funk & Associates, informed the state Board of Regents of the move in an email sent Monday afternoon.
“As the Board meeting approaches on Wednesday – and given that we have not had any additional correspondence with the Board – we believe that it is best that we withdraw our Proposal,” Funk wrote.
At its meeting Wednesday in Iowa City, the board is slated to select a search firm, approve responsibilities of a not-yet-formed search committee and approve a list of core qualities needed from ISU’s next leader. In April, the board received four offers from search firms, including Funk’s proposal.
The firm told the board it had a competing offer, and that it would take the first offer it received, Funk said in an interview with The Des Moines Register. He declined to name the competing university, because the school had not made its choice public.
The Board of Regents declined to comment.
Funk & Associates boasts a lengthy client list, and bills itself as the best known and most widely respected search consultant in higher education.
Ten years ago, the firm recruited ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, who has said he plans to retire next year. Funk also recruited the sitting presidents at University of Northern Iowa and Drake University, and the two University of Iowa presidents who preceded its current president, Sally Mason.

Top recruiter withdraws from ISU presidential search | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

**Senolcyc** · 06-07-2011, 02:06 PM

Let the cluster hump begin!

**pyrocyz** · 06-07-2011, 02:09 PM

This is what happens when you put ZERO ISU supporters on the board of regents.

**Haverhill** · 06-07-2011, 02:11 PM

Isn't Ruth Harkin's husband, Tom, an Iowa State graduate?

**jbhtexas** · 06-07-2011, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Senolcyc

Let the cluster hump begin!

Well, of course you'd give the silent treatment to the search firm who found you the previous highly successful ISU president. That's just common sense...

**jbhtexas** · 06-07-2011, 02:24 PM

Also, for those of you local to Iowa:

1) Run over to Geoffroy's house and beg him to stay on another four years.

2) In 2014, elect a governor that doesn't despise ISU. He doesn't have to love ISU, but he shouldn't want to a see ISU reduced to directional college either...

**Tornado man** · 06-07-2011, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

Well, of course you'd give the silent treatment to the search firm who found you the previous highly successful ISU president. That's just common sense...

That's an opinion not shared by lots of ISU faculty members. Maybe we need a president who's not afraid to make hard decisions.

**geburgess** · 06-07-2011, 02:27 PM

I officially throw my name into the hat to be the next ISU president.

**jbhtexas** · 06-07-2011, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

That's an opinion not shared by lots of ISU faculty members. Maybe we need a president who's not afraid to make hard decisions.

Which hard decisions did Geoffroy fail to make?

**bpmcclain** · 06-07-2011, 02:34 PM

Just make me the new president and get it over with already

**alarson** · 06-07-2011, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

Also, for those of you local to Iowa:

1) Run over to Geoffroy's house and beg him to stay on another four years.

2) In 2014, elect a governor that doesn't despise ISU. He doesn't have to love ISU, but he shouldn't want to a see ISU reduced to directional college either...

Id like to see the evidence that Branstad really hates ISU. It seems like more message board legend than anything.

**CycloneErik** · 06-07-2011, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

Which hard decisions did Geoffroy fail to make?

I think it has to do with being here 10 years. Over 10 years, you have to have upset somebody with a decision here and there.

I've never heard specifics, but I know some were upset with him. Some of that is because they were used to a different president before him, some is probably just personal preferences. I just chalk it up to being in a leadership position.

I think he was outstanding. Nobody is perfect, but he was outstanding.

**Judoka** · 06-07-2011, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

Id like to see the evidence that Branstad really hates ISU. It seems like more message board legend than anything.

WOI?

**Senolcyc** · 06-07-2011, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

That's an opinion not shared by lots of ISU faculty members.

A president not liked by the faculty should get a lifetime appointment. It means he is running the university instead of the faculty, which is why they don't like him.

**Tornado man** · 06-07-2011, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

Which hard decisions did Geoffroy fail to make?

1. Hard decisions like maybe which weak programs to further cut, or eliminate altogether, in order to protect our strong departments/colleges from any budget cuts at all. I have friends who are dept. heads who say Geoffroy is a president who doesn't confront things. They have 3 hr. meetings with him with no resolutions/decisons coming from them.
2. Greg hired his good friend Betsy Hoffman from the scrap heap to be Provost; what has she done? Lots of frustration there.
3. GG likes to be liked. He likes to make friends. He doesn't like to make enemies. That's why he got the BOR lifetime contract, because he didn't give them grief. Like him or not, Jischke was FAMOUS for his angry phone calls to BOR members, letting them know exactly how he felt. Kinda wish GG did this.