SRU president search is down to 2 finalists
SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University's council of trustees on Friday selected two finalists in its search for the school's next president.
Board members unanimously advanced William Behre and Rodney Hanley to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education board of governors. The board, which meets next on March 5, will ultimately interview Behre and Hanley and select SRU's next top administrator.
Friday's action by SRU trustees ends a nearly 14-month search for a successor to former SRU President Cheryl Norton, who retired in July 2017. Following Norton's retirement the state board appointed SRU Provost Philip Way as interim president.
Jeff Smith, a university trustee and chair of SRU's presidential search committee, thanked committee members and called the two finalists “of the highest quality.”
“I believe we have identified two exceptional candidates,” Smith said in a news release. “Now the decision is in the board of governors' hands.”
Behre is the chief academic officer for Georgian Court University, a Catholic, liberal arts school in Lakewood, N.J. He has 25 years experience as a public school educator, university researcher, professor, faculty leader and higher education administrator, according to SRU.
Behre earned his Ph.D. in education from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in education from Hunter College, and a bachelor's degree in economics from Vassar College.
Hanley is the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., a position he has held since 2014. He previously served as provost and vice president at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario; dean of science at the University of Winnipeg; and a faculty member at the University of North Dakota. His career in academia spans more than 29 years.Hanley earned his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Kansas; a master's degree in sustainable leadership from the University of Cambridge; and master's and bachelor's degrees in environmental biology from Eastern Illinois University.
