President Davenport to stay at MSU
by Nia Jonesz
Issue date: 9/4/08
Section: Campus News
Minnesota State President Richard Davenport will remain in Mankato for the time being.
Late in August, news spread that Davenport was one of two finalists in a search to fill the president position at Old Dominion in Virginia. Though Davenport had not officially announced his consideration for the job, a daily newspaper in Virginia posted the information on its Web site.
After the news of his candidacy had been broken, Davenport issued a statement addressing the issue.
"Old Dominion University is a highly respected research institution with a renowned faculty and rigorous academic programs," he said. "I was heavily pursued by a search firm that resulted in my selection as a finalist, and I have made no commitment to the Old Dominion Board of Visitors."
Within the same week, MSU announced Davenport had withdrawn his name from consideration for the position. Deborah Stanley, the other finalist for the Old Dominion position and current president at the State University of New York, also withdrew from contention.
In a prepared statement released after his withdrawal, Davenport listed the reasons he had been considered for the position.
"I had been aggressively pursued, I understand, because of the reputation I established for accomplishments at Central Michigan University and Minnesota State University," Davenport said. "I want the Minnesota State Mankato community to know that it is largely because of your hard work and impressive achievements that my name is periodically brought to the attention of presidential searches."
According to the Associated Press, Old Dominion faculty didn't necessarily agree with Davenport's self-assessment. It was reported that the ODU faculty senate requested that the search committee find stronger candidates. The Virginian-Pilot, the paper that initially broke the story of Davenport's candidacy, also quoted Senate Chairman Paul Champagne as saying that many faculty were "frustrated and upset'' with the finalist choices.
Nia Jonesz is the Reporter news editor
Late in August, news spread that Davenport was one of two finalists in a search to fill the president position at Old Dominion in Virginia. Though Davenport had not officially announced his consideration for the job, a daily newspaper in Virginia posted the information on its Web site.
After the news of his candidacy had been broken, Davenport issued a statement addressing the issue.
"Old Dominion University is a highly respected research institution with a renowned faculty and rigorous academic programs," he said. "I was heavily pursued by a search firm that resulted in my selection as a finalist, and I have made no commitment to the Old Dominion Board of Visitors."
Within the same week, MSU announced Davenport had withdrawn his name from consideration for the position. Deborah Stanley, the other finalist for the Old Dominion position and current president at the State University of New York, also withdrew from contention.
In a prepared statement released after his withdrawal, Davenport listed the reasons he had been considered for the position.
"I had been aggressively pursued, I understand, because of the reputation I established for accomplishments at Central Michigan University and Minnesota State University," Davenport said. "I want the Minnesota State Mankato community to know that it is largely because of your hard work and impressive achievements that my name is periodically brought to the attention of presidential searches."
According to the Associated Press, Old Dominion faculty didn't necessarily agree with Davenport's self-assessment. It was reported that the ODU faculty senate requested that the search committee find stronger candidates. The Virginian-Pilot, the paper that initially broke the story of Davenport's candidacy, also quoted Senate Chairman Paul Champagne as saying that many faculty were "frustrated and upset'' with the finalist choices.
Nia Jonesz is the Reporter news editor
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