American University’s Board of Trustees announced Monday that it will begin its search for a permanent president beginning this fall, almost a year after ousting President Ben Ladner amid allegations of improper spending.
School officials did not say whether Interim President Cornelius Kerwin — who took the reins of the university after Ladner was put on leave in August 2005 as the school investigated hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper expenses, is considering becoming a candidate. Kerwin, considered popular by students and faculty — could not be reached for comment Monday.
A 15-member presidential search committee, which will include trustees, students and faculty, is expected to assemble a list of candidates from campus, national and international recommendations and create a short list of top candidates to take tours of the campus beginning in late fall. Board Chairman Gary Abramson will chair the committee. A specific deadline for a final selection has yet to be announced, officials said.
AU Trustee Matthew Pittinsky said the school is “ready to begin this search.”
The search, however, will begin with the university still operating under the watchful eye of the Senate Finance Committee and its chairman, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. Grassley is using the Ladner scandal and its aftermath as a case study to determine whether new federal laws need to be created to provide better government oversight of not-for-profit institutions of higher education. At the center of the investigation is a $3.75 million departure package given to Ladner to avoid further litigation.
AU’s Board passed what it called “sweeping” changes to its governance structure in May in hopes of avoiding any further investigation, but Grassley said the changes could be construed as mere “window-dressing.” Grassley has yet to introduce any legislation stemming from his committee’s investigation into the university.
