September 19, 2024
Dear WSU community,
Since President Schulz announced his intention to retire this spring, WSU Regents have strived
to create an inclusive and comprehensive process for the selection of the next President of WSU.
Alongside members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) and the executive search
firm Isaacson, Miller, we have worked collaboratively to collect input from faculty, staff,
students, and community partners to create a presidential leadership profile that accurately
depicts the current landscape of WSU.
Between the eight focus group sessions we held in the spring and the 20+ public listening
sessions hosted over the last few weeks, PSAC representatives, members of the Board of Regents,
and search firm team members have met with over 400 faculty, staff, students, and alums, and
received well over 100 written submissions through our online feedback form.
In all these interactions, we were inspired by your passion, your candor, and the commitment
to excellence evident at every level of this institution. We are grateful for the insights shared
throughout this process, and we have distilled that feedback into a leadership profile that will
guide our recruitment efforts as we seek to attract the right person to propel WSU forward.
Next steps
The presidential leadership profile that will go before the Board of Regents tomorrow
incorporates the expectations, characteristics, qualifications, and opportunities described by
this incredible community. Many of the key themes we heard during our sessions are reflected in
the section dedicated to the opportunities and challenges ahead of the incoming president. The
key opportunities outlined in that document include:
Driving an ambitious vision for WSU, aligning talent and resources to build a team to
actualize impact
Advancing excellence in research, education, and Extension including partnering with
industry, business, and government agencies
Championing WSU’s reputation and rankings as Washington State’s land-grant university,
a leading institution on the regional, national, and global scale
Building and improving an effective and efficient systemwide organizational structure
Galvanizing efforts around enrollment, morale, budget, and athletics after the challenges
of the pandemic years
Stewarding and increasing WSU’s financial resources to ensure organizational sustainability
and invest strategically in the University’s future success
This leadership profile will be posted on the Presidential Search website
shortly after approval and will be widely circulated as members of the PSAC and our search firm
begin the candidate review and selection process.
On behalf of the entire Board of Regents, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the
university community for your active participation in this process. Your thoughtful input has
provided us with valuable insights that will guide the selection of our next president and shape
the future of our university. We look forward to finding candidates with the qualifications and
vision to help us realize the goals you have laid out for us. We are committed to taking the time
needed to ensure we find the right candidate to lead us into the future.
Go Cougs!
Lisa Keohokalole Schauer
Chair, Board of Regents
Washington State University
Jenette Ramos
Vice Chair, Board of Regents
Chair, Presidential Search Advisory Committee
Washington State University
