Provost search updates

Dear JMU faculty and staff,

As we look to select the next JMU provost, I want to let you know how the search will progress in the coming months and how you can be involved.

The role of provost and vice president for Academic Affairs is more than a leadership position – it requires an individual who is able to collaboratively help guide our academic community toward new heights of excellence, innovation and impact.

As we continue to think boldly through the strategic planning process, our new provost will be central to shaping the academic vision at our institution. They must foster collaboration across disciplines; inspire both faculty and students to achieve their fullest potential; play a pivotal role in advancing academic quality; support research, innovation and scholarship; and ensure that our programs are both responsive and rigorous, to prepare graduates to thrive in an ever-changing environment.

Your engagement in our search process is vital. Together, we will identify a visionary leader who shares our commitment to academic distinction and student success. Assisting us will be a search committee that I have asked to keep our campus informed throughout the process. They will be working with Academic Search, our consultant, to assure a deep and wide applicant pool.

Search Committee Members

David Kirkpatrick – Co-Chair, Vice President and Chief of Staff, Office of the President; Associate Professor, Philosophy and Religion
Towana Moore – Co-Chair, Vice President, Administration and Finance
Kieran Fensterwald – Student Government Association Student Speaker; Democracy Fellow
Gilpatrick Hornsby – Associate Vice Provost, Faculty Success; Executive Director, Center for Faculty Innovation
Fletcher Linder – Dean, University Studies
David McGraw – Professor, Integrated Science and Technology; Faculty Ombudsperson
Rudy Molina – Vice Provost for Student Academic Success
Russ Reeder – CEO, XTIUM; JMU Alumnus (’94)
Robert Richardson – Associate Professor, Accounting
Ben Selznick – Faculty Senate Marshal; Associate Professor and Advisor of Postsecondary Analysis and Leadership; Graduate Faculty, College of Business
Anthony Tongen – Vice President, Research, Economic Development and Innovation
Kathy Ott Walter – Speaker of the Faculty Senate; Associate Professor, Health Sciences
Melinda Wood – Vice President, Access and Enrollment
Traci Zimmerman – Dean, College of Arts and Letters

Anticipated Search Timeline

• Listening sessions will be held to hear from the campus community during the following times:
  • Thurs., Dec. 4 from 3-4 p.m. in the Hall of Presidents (3rd floor of D-Hall) with President Jim, David Kirkpatrick and Towana Moore
  • Fri., Dec. 5 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. with David Kirkpatrick and Towana Moore
• Listening sessions are open to the entire campus community.
• The recruitment period will be December 2025 through mid-February 2026.
• The first round of interviews will take place in early March 2026.
• Final candidates will be invited to campus to meet with members of our campus community.
• It is anticipated that the appointed provost and vice president for Academic Affairs will be announced by early April 2026.

I have every confidence that our search committee, working closely with faculty, staff and students across campus, will help me identify a new leader who can advance our vision and take James Madison University confidently into the future. I encourage you to attend a listening session, and to share your ideas.

Thank you for all you do to support JMU. Go Dukes!

President Jim