News

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

Two days after faculty members at Brandeis University narrowly voted no confidence in their president, Ron Liebowitz announced he’ll step down from the post, effective Nov. 1. Faculty criticized Liebowitz for fundraising failures and the way he handled a recent budget shortfall, which led to job cuts. Over all, they said Liebowitz has shown a “consistent pattern of damaging errors of judgment and poor leadership,” according to the no-confidence motion.

The process for the search of a new president at Concord University is moving forward, as the Presidential Search Committee for the university approved the use of a search firm. Concord’s 12th president in school history, Dr. Kendra Boggess, announced in July that she would be retiring next year.

Susan Looney, president of Reading Area Community College, has received the 2024 President’s Merit Award from the Berks County (Pennsylvania) Latino Chamber of Commerce. The award exemplifies the leadership, dedication and contributions to the academic and broader community displayed by Looney in her role as president, according to the chamber.

Mary Louise Reid died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Waccabuc, New York, on Sept. 13. She was 99 years old and beloved by her large family and many friends. Brilliant and beautiful, she was also always kind, gracious, and self-effacing. Wife of 70 years, mother of six children, political spouse, passionate supporter of education, community servant, person of faith, talented athlete, and lover of dogs, Mary Louise was a renaissance woman for her times.

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.