News

Like much of America, higher education is consumed with uncertainty over Tuesday’s presidential election.

Pennsylvania State University is locked in a legal battle with a second trustee who has raised questions about transparency and alleged retaliation from the board for his outspoken manner. Anthony Lubrano, an alumni-elected trustee, sued Penn State last month alleging the governing board launched a retaliatory investigation after he gave media interviews in which he “expressed his opinions on matters of public concern affecting the university,” according to a copy of the lawsuit. Specifically, Lubrano is demanding the university pay his legal fees for the investigation, which he argues was launched in an attempt to silence him for speaking out about potential violations of open meetings laws, university finances and other issues.

Pamela Whitten has ascended to presidential positions at state universities twice without being named by search committees among the initial finalists. Whitten was named the 19th president of Indiana University in 2021 even though she was not among the initial finalists. Three years earlier, the same thing happened at Kennesaw State University, where she was the fifth president. Whitten has been at the helm of one of Indiana’s largest economic drivers for three years. She was paid $829,209 last year after receiving a bonus from the board of trustees, and enjoys fringe benefits including free housing and a generous life insurance policy. Exactly why she was ushered into the positions — or by whose guiding hand, if any — is unclear.

Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has appointed Dario Cortes as partner and co-head, education practice. “Our education clients invest in senior talent with the expertise and experience to manage institutional and social tensions, evolving fiscal circumstances, and an urgent need to drive impactful innovation,” said Kennon Kincaid, CEO of Odgers Berndtson USA. “Dr. Cortes possesses unparalleled first-hand experience as an academic and business leader.

On Thursday, August 1, campus information technology (IT) professionals gathered for the annual Continuous Improvement in Technology (CIT) Conference. The keynote this year was delivered by the new President Aondover Tarhule. Attendees were excited to hear what the President had to share, along with being offered a choice of sessions revolving around technology practices at Illinois State and beyond.

The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is proud to announce the release of Memoranda of Understanding Between Public Institutions and Affiliated Foundations. This guide is designed to help improve the partnerships between higher education institutions and their affiliated foundations. It provides actionable recommendations and a framework that allows the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance teamwork, encourage innovation, and align institutional goals with foundation efforts.

Prior to Vice President Kamala Harris touring Savannah with a delegation of Savannah State University (SSU) students and then speaking at an Enmarket Arena rally on Thursday, Aug. 29, a presidential event of another sort took place. Much more intimate crowds trickled in and out of SSU’s Elmore Theater inside the King Frazier Student Center, 3219 College St., throughout the morning for the University of Georgia’s (USG) Presidential Search Committee Listening Sessions.

A webinar series designed to address key governance challenges, and opportunities, confronting Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) kicks off Oct. 1 with “HBCU Spotlight: The Roles and Responsibilities of Boards and Presidents. ”The Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) and the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) have partnered to offer the MSI Governance Webinar Series with grant funding from ECMC Foundation.