Kansas State University

President names search committee for next provost and executive vice president

Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing

K-State President Richard Linton has appointed the search committee to lead a national search for the university's next provost and executive vice president.

Co-chairing this committee will be Marshall Stewart, senior vice president, and Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education. The university has engaged the services of WittKieffer, an executive search and advisory firm, to support the search process.  

Search committee members are:

• Marshall Stewart, co-chair, senior vice president for executive affairs, university engagement and partnerships, and chief of staff. 
• Debbie Mercer, co-chair, dean of the College of Education.
• Ayumi Amama, instructor and program coordinator of Women in Engineering and Global Engineers in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering.
• Mirta Chavez, executive director of diversity and multicultural student affairs, Student Life.
• Melinda Cro, assistant dean of students in the College of Arts and Sciences. 
• Bronwyn Fees, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Health and Human Sciences. 
• Wayne Goins, university distinguished professor of music and director of jazz studies.
• Karen Goos, vice provost for enrollment management.
• Eric Higgins, professor in the finance department.
• Nathan Howe, head of the interior architecture and industrial design department.
• Rana Johnson, vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Cassandra Jones, professor and teaching coordinator in animal sciences and industry in the College of Agriculture.
• Brandon Kliewer, associate professor in the Staley School of Leadership. 
• Mary Oborny, office specialist in the kinesiology department. 
• David Rosowsky, vice president for research. 
• Bonnie Rush, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Jill Shields, deputy athletics director of K-State Athletics.
• Caleb Stout, student body president and senior in agricultural economics.
• Barbara Valent, university distinguished professor of plant pathology. 
• Kortnee VanDonge, president of the Graduate Student Council and third-year veterinary medicine, Master of Public Health and global food systems leadership. 
• Mary Vanier, chair of the KSU Foundation board of directors. 
• Don Von Bergen, Faculty Senate president and professor in the integrated studies department at K-State Salina. 
• Adam Walker, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. 
• Ben Wolfe, dean and CEO of K-State Olathe.