The process for finding a new president to replace President Bill Perry is still starting out.

Joe Dively, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the search committee and related processes are still in the preliminary stages, since it was only recently that Perry announced he would not be returning as president.

Dively said the last Presidential Search Advisory Committee was made up of approximately 16 individuals from all over Eastern. He said the list included faculty, deans, students, administration, staff, Board of Trustees, alumni, the EIU Foundation and there was Charleston representation on the committee.

He also said the last search committee engaged an executive search firm to assist in the process.

“I anticipate the board will consider a similar engagement at the April meeting,” Dively said.

The search firm the committee engaged with is called Academic Search Inc. The search firm is based out of Washington, D.C.

Academic Search was also used in 2001 when a committee was needed to find a new president.

When the search committee finally does narrow down a selection, they will bring the name to the board for its approval.

Perry sent an email out to faculty members and administrators on March 27 explaining his intentions on not renewing his contract.

Perry began his tenure as president in July 2007, after being at Texas A&M University since 1971, where he was in professorial and administrative roles.

Perry replaced Lou Hencken, who is currently the interim admissions director, after a search committee narrowed down the candidates to three, including Perry.

He also stated he was keeping his options for the future open and had no intention of retiring, but instead would like to travel or teach mathematics.

Perry’s contract ends in June 2015.

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or dennewsdesk@gmail.com.