Ohio State Provost Edward Ray is a leading candidate in Oregon State’s search for a new president.
The Oregon State Board of Higher Education could name the new president as early as today, according to Di Saunders, Director of Communications for Oregon University.
Oregon State announced finalists for the position on Saturday.
Ray is one of three finalists selected by the board. He has been at OSU since 1970 and served as a professor and department chairman before he became provost. Ray’s desire to leave OSU is not a surprise, he has pursued job opportunities at other universities, including the University of Michigan, New Mexico and Iowa University.
Interviews with the two other finalists were conducted yesterday, and Ray will be interviewed this morning. The board will begin deliberation at 3 p.m. and will make its decision sometime this afternoon, Saunders said.
“We’re hoping to make the announcement sometime (today), but there’s a possibility that it could be (tomorrow),” Saunders said.
The announcement could be delayed if discussion between Richard Jarvis, Chancellor at Oregon State and the person chosen takes longer than expected.
“The chancellor and whoever is selected to be the president have to sit down and discuss things like salary and terms of the position. The time of the announcement really depends on when they finish that meeting,” Saunders said.
The other candidates for the position are Dr. Stephen W. Director, dean of engineering at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Yacov A. Shamash, dean of engineering and applied science at the Harriman School for Management and Policy for the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
All three finalists were given the opportunity to address students, faculty and members of the press during open forums that were conducted Tuesday and yesterday. This was also a chance for those in attendance to ask the candidates questions. Director spoke on Tuesday and Shamash and Ray conducted their forums yesterday.
“(Ray) did an excellent job of answering questions from faculty, staff and students in today’s open forum,” Saunders said.
Once chosen, the new president will take office in late summer. He will be replacing the interim president Timothy White, who served as provost before accepting the interim position.
