*This letter was sent out from the president’s office to the PLU campus on behalf of Gary Severson
Dear Campus Community:
With the news of President Krise’s transition at the end of the academic year, I know the question on most minds is who will become acting president, and what is the process for naming a long-term successor?
As chair of the Board of Regents, I want to assure you that an acting president will be voted on by the full board at our next regularly scheduled meeting May 4-6, and the individual will be announced the week of May 8, well in advance of Dr. Krise’s last day in office on May 31.
Over the past several weeks, an acting president task force has reviewed 14 external and internal candidates. The task force, comprised of faculty, staff, regents and alumni and led by incoming Board of Regents Chair Ed Grogan, is committed to deliberative shared governance. Work of this nature takes time, and I thank you for your patience and understanding with this important process.
As for the long-term successor, preparation work will commence in June so that a search committee representing faculty, staff, regents, alumni and students can hit the ground running in the fall on a nationwide search for the most qualified candidate to lead PLU into the future. We expect that work will be ongoing throughout the next academic year.
For now, I ask that you join me in thanking Tom and Patty Krise for their ongoing commitment and contributions to PLU, and continuing to support them, just as they continue to be vitally present on campus and in our surrounding communities. PLU has benefitted greatly from Tom’s dedication to diversifying our campus community and engaging in social justice and sustainability efforts in our greater community. Those commitments, together with his skill in fostering dialogue with students and addressing their concerns in a collaborative fashion, are priorities that remain first and foremost in our planning for the future.
Finally, it has been my great honor to serve as your board chair. I have had the privilege of serving on the PLU Board of Regents for 19 years, nine of them as chair, and providing advice and counsel on the finance and academic affairs committees. I believe, more than ever, that the best days are still ahead for PLU. I wish our incoming chair Ed Grogan great success, and I know that like me, he too will be deeply inspired by the people and accomplishments of this great university.
With deep gratitude,
Gary
