Three months after Provost Sol Gittleman announced his intention to step down from the second-highest position at the University, a search committee is still gathering names of potential replacements.
Following Gittleman's announcement in October, President Larry Bacow appointed a six-member advisory committee - five faculty members and one administrator - to suggest sources for nominations and help identify qualities a new provost should possess. Bacow said he has received applications from both Tufts and other institutions, though he declined to comment on the identities of the applicants.
It will be a first for Tufts if Gittleman's successor comes from the outside - all previous provosts have come from within the University's ranks. But advisory committee member and biology professor Abraham Sonenshein says that Bacow is committed to a national search.
"The president would like to have as wide a net in finding people as possible," Sonenshein said.
Bacow said he wants to have someone in place by the start of the fall semester, but according to philosophy professor Daniel Dennett, also a member of the committee, the decision may come much sooner. He added, however, that no deadline has been set due to the importance of the selection.
The position falls immediately under Bacow on the University's chain of command, and the president said he is particularly interested in locating a candidate that matches his own leadership style.
"I am looking for an academic who can provide intellectual leadership for Tufts and someone whose skills compliment mine," he said. Bacow has also said that one of the primary responsibilities of Gittleman's replacement will be to take a closer look at the operations of Tufts' different schools.
"The new provost will play a significant role in helping to formulate academic and budgetary priorities for each of the schools," he said. Dennett said the ideal candidate would also be one who would be respected by the University faculty for his or her breadth of intellect.
Bacow can reserve the right to narrow the list of nominations to a "small number of final candidates," after which the committee will rejoin him to meet and assess the final group.
During an administrative reshuffling last semester that coincided with Gittleman's announcement, Bacow appointed Dean of Engineering Ioannis Miaoulis and Dr. Mary Y. Lee as associate provosts in part to help unite Tufts' seven schools. Gittleman said the ultimate fate of these positions would lie with his successor.
"The new provost will decide how he or she wants that managed," he said. "There may be some restructuring."
As the University's first humanist provost, Gittleman said that candidates' academic backgrounds will play a large role in their skills as provost.
"The position itself is an empty stocking," he said. "It fits the leg of the person wearing it."
Though he is stepping down as provost, Gittleman is far from retiring. He plans to continue teaching at Tufts and is already set for next semester. He will again lead the freshman writing seminar on baseball's influence on the 20th century.
Gittleman will stay in close contact with Bacow in his new role and plans to travel more, mainly on University-related trips. The purpose of the trips include fundraising efforts and improving alumni relations: "Anything the president wants me to do," Gittleman said.
With the search process underway for his replacement, Gittleman is looking forward to his new role at Tufts. While he expects a decision from Bacow before next semester, he's ready for the announcement any day.
"I hope it's sooner rather than later," he said.
