POCATELLO - The State Board of Education is pleased to announce the names of four exceptional leaders vying to lead Idaho State University. The presidential finalists are: Dr. Jay Noren, Executive Vice President and Provost for the University of Nebraska; Dr. Lois Muir, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Montana; Dr. Arthur Vailas, Vice Chancellor and Vice President for Research and Intellectual Property Management at the University of Houston; and Dr. Larry Lemanski, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at Florida Atlantic University.
"Each of these finalists has the ability to provide strong leadership for Idaho State University," said Karen McGee, State Board member and Chair of the Presidential Screening Committee. "The Presidential search garnered many qualified applicants from across the country. The Committee believes these four individuals have the knowledge, experience, and professionalism to lead ISU. We look forward to inviting each of the candidates to Idaho and introducing them further to Idaho State University."
Each of the candidates will visit ISU campuses in Pocatello , Idaho Falls, and Boise during January. Dr. Noren will visit Idaho from January 11 to January 13; Dr. Muir will come to Idaho from January 17 to January 19; Dr. Vailas will be in Idaho from January 18 to January 20; and Dr. Lemanski will be on campus from January 23 to January 25. A complete schedule of the visits will be released soon. After the finalists tour ISU, the State Board will meet to determine the next President of Idaho State University. The announcement is expected in February.
Complete vitae of each of the candidates are available on the State Board of Education's website, http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/Pressearch/ISU/ISU-Candidates.asp ; as well as Idaho State University's website, http://www.isu.edu .
A brief biography is included below on each of the finalists:
Dr. Jay Noren currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Provost for the University of Nebraska. Prior to joining the University of Nebraska, he was the director of the Health Workforce Project of the National Institute of Heath Policy. He was appointed President for the Health Science Center and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs at Texas A&M University. Dr. Noren also served as the interim chancellor for the Minnesota State College and University system, as well as Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Policy for the Center for Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He worked as a dean, director and senior staff associate over 22 years for the University of Wisconsin. He received his undergraduate degrees, in addition to his M.D., from the University of Minnesota, and his M.P.H. from Harvard University.
Dr. Lois Muir has served as the University Provost and Vice President for the University of Montana for the last five years. She also served as an Associate Provost at Kent State University and was a dean at Kennesaw State University as well as chair for many departments throughout her academic career. She is a psychology professor and received her Ph.D. at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, her master's at Auburn University in family and child development and her bachelor's in psychology at University of Texas at Austin. She has conducted extensive research and specializes in developmental psychology between parents and infants.
Dr. Larry Lemanski has been the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida for five years. Prior to working in Florida, Dr. Lemanski was the Associate Vice President for Research at Texas A&M University as well as Acting Vice President for Research. He also served as the Chair of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse. Dr. Lemanski has served as a professor teaching Zoology, Biology and Anatomy in Arizona, Pennsylvania, California and Wisconsin. He was in active and reserve service in the United States Army for 14 years and remains active in volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Zoology at Arizona State University in Tempe.
Dr. Arthur Vailas is the Vice Chancellor and Vice President for Research at the University of Houston System and University of Houston. He served as an Associate Dean for Research and Development in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was the Department Chair for Kinesiology and the Director of a Biodynamics Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Vailas has taught mechanical engineering. He received his bachelor's at the University of New Hampshire and his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Iowa. Dr. Vailas has worked as consultant for many national corporations including Lockheed and Marion-Merrill Dow.
Finalists were chosen by the ISU Presidential Screening Committee consisting of representatives of the faculty, administration, staff, students, alumni, foundation, community leaders, Board of Regents, the Idaho Legislature, and other stakeholders of the University. The committee is responsible for recruiting and screening applicants and performing preliminary reference checks. Dedicated to the University and its role in Idaho higher education, the Committee focused its search on candidates who are outstanding leaders in the higher education arena with health sciences expertise.
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