Curators interview potential presidents

By Elliot Njus

Published Nov. 13, 2007

The UM system Board of Curators met on Friday in a Columbia boardroom to interview candidates for the system presidency.

Under the watch of an MU police officer, the curators met in closed session in the Boone County National Bank conference room to keep the interviews confidential, UM system spokesman Scott Charton said. Curator Bo Fraser, the bank's chairman of the board, offered the room for the curators' use.

The board adjourned into closed session to keep the candidates' names confidential, but first, Board of Curators chairman Don Walsworth made a statement about the presidential search.

"It's always been this board's feeling that we're looking for the best man or woman available in the United States to serve as president," Walsworth said.

He also praised UM system interim President Gordon Lamb for his service since he took over for former President Elson Floyd in April.

"We're fortunate to have a very good and competent acting president at this time and the board has great confidence in Gordon Lamb," he said. "He's doing a great job in my opinion."

Walsworth didn't give any indication of the board's progress, saying only that the board has been "diligent" in its search.

Charton declined to comment on the board's progress.

After the curators select finalists, they will be interviewed by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, which is made up of faculty, staff and students.

Before going into closed session, the board held a short meeting to discuss putting some of the university's retirement and endowment money into a fund managed by private equity firm Warburg Pincus. The board met to discuss the issue because the window to make a decision would close before the next regular board meeting.

They also requested a report on the UM system's hedge fund investments. The curators will discuss the report at the board's next regular meeting on Nov. 29-30.