Former University of Idaho President Chuck Staben withdrew his application from University of Toledo’s search for an interim president Thursday, according to The Toledo Blade. This comes four days after he was named a finalist for the position.
The Blade researched Staben’s background and contacted him, UT board President Mary Ellen Pisanelli and head of AGB Search Rod McDavis on Wednesday. AGB Search received a $30,000 contract from UT to lead the search for an interim president.
Staben, Pisanelli and McDavis all either declined to comment or could not be reached by The Blade. At a special UT university board meeting the following day, Pisanelli announced Staben had withdrawn his candidacy. She did not provide public explanation.
Staben left his position as UI president on June 15, 2019, after he and the Idaho State Board of Education “mutually agreed” his contract would not renew after the 2018-19 academic year, an ISBE memo stated. The controversies surrounding Staben’s departure from UI were not included in the bio released by UT earlier in the week.
Staben is now a professor in the Biological Sciences Department at UI. Staben was a finalist for president of the University of New Mexico in 2017 and University of North Dakota in 2019, but was not chosen for either position.
“I’m 55 years old so I figure I’ve got 10 or 15 years of work left in me and my wife hates to move,” Staben said as he took on the role as UI president in 2013. “This is one last good job.”
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Bob Kustra
As President of Boise State during Dr. Staben’s tenure at the University of Idaho, I worked with him and considered him a valued colleague. Members of the Board treated him unfairly and it is most unfortunate that he should still be paying for poor board leadership. He should still be serving as President of the UI.