Presidential Search
Message from the Board of Trustees
Dear Faculty and Staff,
I hope this message finds all of you well. I am writing with an update on our presidential search. Over the last month, our search consultants from Isaacson, Miller have met with faculty, students, staff, board members, senior leaders at JU, and the search committee to gain an understanding of the university, the opportunities and challenges facing our next leader, and the qualifications and experience we are seeking in presidential candidates.
The broad participation and valuable insights provided by our faculty, staff, and students are a testament to your strong dedication to JU. The search committee is grateful to everyone who attended the meetings and completed the survey to provide feedback. That information was compiled into a comprehensive position profile that has been approved by the search committee. You can find the document at the JU presidential search website (https://www.ju.edu/president/president-position-profile.php). It will be shared broadly with potential candidates to help them understand JU’s unique strengths, the foundation on which the next president will build, and our aspirations for the future.
Our search consultants are now engaged in an intensive recruitment effort, contacting potential candidates around the country to garner interest in and suggestions for the search with the purpose of building a deep and broad pool for the search committee's consideration. The search committee welcomes any suggestions you might have with regard to potential candidates or others who might have suggestions.
Please submit your suggestions directly to the search consultants: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/jacksonville-university/president.
Thank you again for your participation in this critical process. I’ll share additional updates with the JU community as the search advances.
Best,
John Miller, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Paul Boynton, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee
Comprehensive JU Position Profile
A comprehensive position profile has been approved by the presidential search committee.
Search Updates & Timeline
Timeline
1. Launch Meeting and Listening Sessions - Fall 2026
The IM search team will meet with faculty, staff, students, administration, trustees,
and alumni to solicit input. These sessions will take place virtually.
The search committee and IM will hold a launch meeting to get acquainted with each other and discuss the nature of the search process, the role and responsibilities of committee members, the schedule, and how committee members would answer the listening session discussion questions.
2. Presidential Position Profile Review and Finalization - Fall 2026
The committee will review and finalize the position profile that will be developed
by IM and confirm the search schedule. This is usually an email exercise.
3. 1st Presentation: Mid-Course Review
IM will present potential candidates to the committee. Some of these people will have
been screened by phone, and others may have been interviewed by video. The committee
will also review lists of people contacted during IM’s networking.
4. 2nd Presentation: Discussion & Selection of Semi‑Finalist Candidates - Winter 2026
IM will present to the committee candidates with whom they have had extensive virtual
conversations. The committee will discuss the candidates and select a group of semi-finalists
to interview confidentially. IM and the search chair will also initiate a discussion
about semi-finalist interview logistics and interview topics.
5. Confidential Semi‑Finalist Interviews - Spring 2027
Confidential interviews will provide the committee with an opportunity to get to know
the semi-finalists by extensively questioning and responding to each candidate. These
will be conducted virtually via Zoom. At the end of the interviews, the committee
will narrow the field of semi-finalists and determine which candidates will be recommended
as finalists.
6. Finalist Interviews - Spring 2027
7. Welcoming the new President to Jacksonville University - Spring 2027
The committee will work with the Board to announce the new President and welcome them into the community.
Archived Messages - Board of Trustees
Search Committee for the President of Jacksonville University
- Paul Boynton
- Bart Darrell
- John Donahoo
- Barry Gleichenhaus
- Dr. Timothy Groover ’87
- John Miller
- Matthew Kane ’01
- Charlie Joseph
- Lee Nimnicht ’90
- Fonnie Baarmand
- Dr. Matthew Corrigan
- DaVina Hamilton ’09, ’13
- Dr. Berta Christopher
- Dr. David Hooper
- Dr. Matthew Reiber
- Dr. Daphne Wang
- Judith Mannis ’69
- Ryan Miller ’27
- Dr. Tamara Caudill
Office of the President About Jacksonville University
Nestled on 235 acres of sweeping riverfront campus, with cutting-edge, market-responsive, academic offerings that make its graduates highly sought after across in-demand industries, combining big-school Division I sports pageantry and small-school experiential learning opportunities, Jacksonville University creates a student experience like no other.
About the Office of the President
Jacksonville University’s Office of the President consists of the highest level of administrative staff directly reporting to the president. The Office of the President has the responsibility of managing, developing, coordinating, and implementing the strategic initiatives, projects, and programs of the presidential level. Everything the Office of the President does is to enhance the culture of a student centric institution based primarily on serving the needs of the student while fostering the next generation of JU leaders.
Contact Information Office of the President
Howard Administration Building
Jacksonville University
2800 University Blvd N
Jacksonville, FL 32211
Phone: (904) 256-7016
Email: atp@ju.edu