The Presidential Search Committee at Eastern Kentucky University is recommending the permanent job as president go to David McFaddin. The former EKU Vice President has been serving as interim president at the Richmond school, since Michael Benson stepped down in January.
Richmond Chamber of Commerce President and search committee member Mendi Goble made the motion to suggest McFaddin take on the role in a permanent capacity. “This will give the university the needed stability and support needed to carry the institution forward. We further recommend that prior to the next board of regents meeting, that the board of regents continue to engage the various contingency groups for input,” said Goble.
The search committee took a pause in it’s work when the coronavirus came to Kentucky in the spring.
After meeting in executive session for more than two hours yesterday, the presidential search committee voted unanimously to recommend McFaddin as permanent president at EKU. Search Committee Co-Chair and faculty rep for the board Jason Marion said the eastern Kentucky native takes a keen interest in the university’s service area. “Those 22 counties that the legislature has asked us to serve, that we should take pride in serving, I think it means a lot to David. You know Dr. McFaddin cares a lot about that area and it’s an area of the United States that deserves to have somebody raising their banner,” explained Marion.
Marion says McFaddin has been open to listening to faculty and been recognized for leading the Richmond school during a difficult period with a pandemic. And the environmental health science professor says McFaddin’s years of communicating with state lawmakers in Frankfort give him valuable experience on budgetary matters.
Search Committee Co-Chair and Eastern Public Safety and Risk Management Director Bryan Makinen says there were plans for a national search, but coronavirus disrupted that process as it did everyday life. “Arguably the last months have been a job interview like none other. He has taken this opportunity and performed extraordinarily well, given the response to the global pandemic,” noted Makinen.
Makinen says the committee was comprised of stakeholders both on and off campus. He says there was agreement that McFaddin meets the criteria for the job and can take the university to progress to the next level. ?
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