The University of Idaho will soon begin the search for another interim administrator with the departure of Provost Doug Baker for Northern Illinois University this June.
Faculty Senate Chair Kenton Bird said although Idaho is losing two prominent administrators the university will maintain its dedication to the students.
“I would suspect that the month of may will be a key transitional month for both the provost position and the president’s position,” Bird said. “What we may see is a leadership team of the outgoing president and provost and a leadership team of the interim president and provost making some key decisions during May to be sure that we have a seamless transition.”
Baker was unanimously selected by the NIU Board of Trustees to become the 12th president of the university and will begin his new role July 1. Prior to his selection for the presidency at NIU, Baker was a finalist for the same position at both the University of New Mexico and the University of Wyoming. Bird said he was not surprised at the announcement of Baker’s departure.
“I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised,” Bird said. “It’s certainly clear that Provost Baker has the experience and the qualifications to be president of a major university and I’m just delighted for him and his family that the third time was the charm.”
Baker and wife Dana Stover — assistant dean in the UI College of Business and Economics — will make the move to the Midwest after spending nearly three decades on the Palouse.
Mario Reyes, dean of the College of Business and Economics, said he is sad to see Baker and Stover leave UI and that they will be hard to replace in the coming months.
“I am excited for provost baker to be the new president of NIU and also for Dana, but it’s going to be a huge loss,” Reyes said. “In Dana’s case she is our assistant dean for recruiting, retention and assurance of learning and she is fantastic in that role so those are going to be big shoes to fill.”
Reyes said he and Stover had talked about the possibility of her leaving UI when Baker was named as a finalist at two other universities and he expected it would happen eventually — just not so soon.
“He was a finalist at Wyoming a month ago so we knew that sometime … I just didn’t know it was this soon,” Reyes said. “We had talked about it, but not really a serious conversation. I think part of that is … wishful thinking because Dana has just been wonderful.”
Stover has been both a faculty member and an administrator for CBE, while Baker has been the UI provost and executive vice president since 2005.
Bird said it is unfortunate that Baker’s departure coincides with that of President Nellis, who recently accepted the presidency at Texas Tech University, effective June 15.
“It’s just the role of the dice that we ended up with them both leaving at the same time,” Bird said. “I think Idaho’s loss will be the state of Illinois gain and he will make a great president at Northern Illinois University.”
Search committee’s for both Stover’s replacement and an interim provost are expected to begin soon, followed by a national search for a permanent provost.
Bird said he has confidence that interim president Don Burnett will be the leader UI needs during the interim period for two key administrative positions.
“I think he will be the glue that will hold the upper administration together during the next year and will be guiding the selection of other key administrative positions during this interim year,” Bird said.
Reyes said once he and Stover are able to determine a timeline for her departure, they will begin the process for finding a replacement — although he said she will be difficult to follow.
“She is a part of the college leadership team and I will miss her insights as part of the leadership team, and more importantly I’m going to miss her just as a valued colleague,” Reyes said.
Bird said although there has been significant turn over in Idaho’s upper administration, much of the faculty has remained constant and provided a solid foundation for the institution.
“Presidents and provosts will come and go as new opportunities will present themselves, but the cornerstone of what the university is about is the faculty,” Bird said. “The faculty is here through thick and thin, through good times and bad … I have a great deal of confidence in the commitment of our faculty, many of whom have been at the university longer than either President Nellis or Provost Baker and will continue through the next provost and president.”
Kaitlyn Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]