Duke University starts search for new president

Duke University’s Board of Trustees has started the search for a new president, hiring the same consultant used by the UNC Board of Governors in its recruitment of Margaret Spellings.

In the coming months, Duke will be looking to find its 10th president and successor to Richard Brodhead, who recently announced that he would step down in June of next year.

A 19-member search committee includes alumni, faculty and students. It will be led by Jack Bovender Jr., vice chair of the trustees and retired chair and CEO of the Hospital Corporation of America. Ellen Davis, interim dean of Duke’s divinity school, will serve as the committee's vice chair.

The board also hired the executive search firm of Boston-based Isaacson, Miller to help with the process. That is the same consulting firm that last year identified candidates during the UNC system’s presidential search.

In a message to the Duke community on Wednesday, Duke Trustee Chair David Rubenstein said the committee’s goal is to undertake “an inclusive global search” for an individual who can take Duke to “a new level of excellence.” He invited suggestions from the Duke community on a presidential search website.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Duke University starts search for new president."