Michigan State University trustee disputes suggestion Tucker firing makes presidential search tougher

EAST LANSING — The leader of Michigan State University's presidential search committee Sunday disputed comments by several national experts who said the school's termination of football coach Mel Tucker is likely to impact its ability to hire a top-level presidential candidate.

MSU Trustee Dennis Denno, who is chairing the search committee, issued a statement Sunday to "clarify" the "message" presented in the media regarding the school's search and its timeline of having a new president in place.

"First, the presidential search has incredible candidates who want to come to MSU," Denno said in a statement. "Our search has not been damaged by any recent issues and MSU has a lot to offer our new president — we are one of the top 40 public universities in the nation, one of the top 100 research universities in the world, we have top-ranked academic programs, some of the brightest faculty, and the best students in the country."

The Division I university has been without a permanent president since November 2022 when then-President Samual Stanley resigned, citing a loss of confidence in the Board of Trustees. Interim President Teresa Woodruff, who had been provost at the school, has been in charge since then after being appointed to the post by the board.

The board is seeking is sixth president in five years since the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal first broke.

Stanley's three-year tenure came to an abrupt end with his resignation. He said he had lost confidence in the Board of Trustees, some of whom had pressured him to retire early following concerns over how Title IX issues were handled. His resignation was previously scheduled to take effect in mid-January, but was moved up.

The board later hired Boston, Massachusetts-based Isaacson, Miller to direct the search to replace Stanley.

Woodruff announced in August that she would not seek the school's presidency permanently.

Last week, the State Journal reported that the fallout from football coach Mel Tucker's termination because of alleged sexual harassment of a rape victim and sexual assault prevention advocate likely would impact the school's ability to hire a president and a new coach. Denno told the State Journal the board intended to announce the school's next hire by Thanksgiving.

Judith Wilde, a George Mason University researcher who specializes in presidential searches in higher education, said to the State Journal the news from the past three weeks that led to football coach Mel Tucker's firing will have changed the way candidates view the job.

She said the impact is significant enough that the university would be well served to slow down the search to ensure it finds the right person for this moment in the school's history.

Denno, said the perception by outside parties is not accurate. He also said he misspoke when he said the hiring committee would consider the opinion of stakeholders, but ultimately might not pick someone they endorse.

"I want to clear the misperception that the search committee and trustees will pick a candidate outside of those candidates recommended by the search committee," he said. "I misspoke in the State News and have listened to the MSU community. I will not deviate from the candidates that the search committee has chosen in the first round and the final candidates that they will present to the full Board of Trustees and I hope all trustees agree.

The State News reported last week that Trustees would “very strongly consider” the recommendations of the search committee but could choose someone else.

"I am committed to the fidelity of the search process and commend everyone on the committee who has worked hard to recommend the strongest candidates possible as our new president," Denno said.

"Finally, there is no need to slow down the search process. MSU’s students, staff, faculty, and alumni deserve a leader who has the vision and skills to lead this university into the future," he said.

The firm Isaacson, Miller — which MSU hired to conduct the search — and Brianna Scott, another trustee on the university's search committee, did not respond to comment from the LSJ last week.

Monday, John Isaacson, chairperson of Isaacson, Miller, emailed a statement to the Lansing State Journal in which he said candidates have not been deterred.

"There has been some speculation that the search for Michigan State's presidency might be diverted by recent and past controversies at the University," he said. "Potential candidates have understood the case and have responded. The committee has a strong slate, of highly qualified, academic candidates, with impressive leadership careers in high office, in the academy.

"While recent revelations are a source of regret at MSU, they do not obscure the underlying strengths of the university and the search has revealed that impressive members of the American academy understand MSU's importance to Michigan and the nation."

Isaacson said the search is on schedule and will conclude "successfully with a hire, highly suited to MSU."

Trustee Rema Vassar, who chairs the MSU board but is not part of the search committee, said she trusts Denno's estimate on when the search will finish. And she echoed him in saying she had no concern about the past few weeks impacting the search.

"These things should not be daunting for a leader who is poised to come into Michigan State University," she said.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State trustee disputes idea Tucker firing impacting presidential search