U of M names advisory committee for president search

The University of Minnesota board of regents has named a 12-member advisory committee to help find the school's next president.

But during a meeting Thursday some regents weren't happy that half the group was made up of U of M professors, and that only three members come from outside the university community.

The committee includes one regent, six professors, a department director and a student, all from the U of M. Two attorneys and a retired judge also round out the group.

Regent Patricia Simmons, who will chair the advisory committee, says professors will be critical in finding good presidential candidates.

"They will have connections and be able to make some of those calls to get information that may be different than a reference identified by the candidate," Simmons said.

Regent Dean Johnson was critical of the panel, saying it didn't include enough people from outside the university.

"This list is heavy with professors. I'm going to be perhaps the lone voice, but I'm going to vote against this," Johnson said. "I respect your work, I respect the hours you put in but I would argue it's not a balanced approach as we move forward."

Current university president Robert Bruininks' contract ends next summer.

The membership of the committee includes:

Patricia Simmons, Chair Regent

David Bernlohr Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Head Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics Joint Department of the Medical School and College of Biological Sciences University of Minnesota

Nancy Carpenter Professor of Chemistry, Division of Science and Mathematics University of Minnesota Morris Morse Alumni Award for Undergraduate Education

Etty DeVeaux Administrative Director, Department of Plant Biology and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota

Marti Hope Gonzales Associate Professor, Department of Psychology College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota

Elliot Kaplan Attorney and Partner Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi

Ryan Kennedy B.A., Political Science, College of Liberal Arts 2009 Candidate, Master of Public Policy, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Richard Leppert Regents Professor, Department of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota Morse Alumni Award for Undergraduate Education

Allen Levine Dean and Professor, College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences University of Minnesota Director, Minnesota Obesity Center

Bruce Mooty Attorney and Principal Gray Plant Mooty

Carol Person Judge (retired), Minnesota District Court Sixth Judicial District, Duluth

Eric Sheppard Regents Professor, Department of Geography College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota