May 1, 2017

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

On behalf of the entire search committee, I would like to thank you for the valuable input you have provided for our search for the University of Miami's next executive vice president and provost. The nominations you submitted as well as the insights furnished at our three town hall meetings and online chat session have greatly strengthened the process to find the very best candidate for this critical leadership position.

I am delighted to report that the search has been proceeding very well. We attracted a high-caliber international pool of 76 candidates from many elite research universities. Among them are former and sitting deans, as well as vice provosts and vice presidents; 18 are from AAU universities, three are members of the National Academies, 23 are underrepresented minorities, and 16 are women. Sixteen of the candidates were invited to meet with the search committee and President Frenk for a confidential interview. Questions reflecting many of the issues raised by the UM community were posed to each of the 15 candidates who accepted our invitations for interviews.

President Frenk is optimistic about naming a new executive vice president and provost this summer. I am grateful for the enthusiastic efforts of our search committee, as well as the diligence of the search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. This has been a very rewarding process, and its successful completion will help position our University for its next period of greatness.

Best,

Eddie Alfonso, Chair
Search Committee for EVP and Provost