Central State University Board of Trustees begins search for next President

The Central State University Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on June 1-2, 2023, at which time it began forming a committee to oversee a nationwide search for a new University President. The board also chose an outside search firm to aid the committee during the process.

Trustee Mark Hatcher announced he would step down as Chair of the Board and begin serving as Chair of the presidential search committee. The Board elected Trustee Jacqueline Gamblin to succeed Hatcher as Board chair.

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“The Board is excited for the future of Central State University,” said Gamblin. “In our search for a new president, we’ll be seeking an individual whose vision and values align with ours – innovation and advancement of STEM education that prepares our students and communities for a globalized future driven by technology.”

In addition to Hatcher, the search committee is made up of Trustees Linda Matthews, Dr. Marlon Moore, Natalia S. Harris, and Richard C. Perry. Individuals representing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and key community stakeholders will be named soon to join the search committee.

The Board selected AGB Search to assist the committee with a nationwide search for the 10th University President and hopes to select a new president within a year. Current President Jack Thomas will step down at the end of his term on June 30, 2023.

The CSU Board of Trustees will work directly with three AGB executive search consultants: Managing Principal of AGB Search Dr. Roderick (Rod) J. McDavis, who has been with AGB since March 1, 2017, after serving 13 years as president of Ohio University; Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd, former president of Alabama State University who also spent over three decades serving the students at Johns Hopkins University; and Dr. Carlton Brown, executive search consultant and senior fellow for AGB Consulting focusing on Business Strategy. He stepped down from the presidency of Clark Atlanta University (GA) in June 2015 after seven years of service preceded by one year as executive vice president and provost.

The Board is currently finalizing a decision on an interim president and will have a final decision by June 30. Updates regarding the Presidential search will be posted online at www.centralstate.edu/presidentialsearch.

Founded in 1887, Central State is an 1890 Land-Grant Institution and Ohio’s only public Historically Black College or University (HBCU).