Spring Break
Carothers announces retirement, search for replacement begins
Chloe Thompson
Issue date: 9/16/08 Section: News
9/16/08 - Standing in front of an audience of more than 100 people yesterday morning, President Robert L. Carothers formally announced his retirement after nearly 18 years at the University of Rhode Island.
Carothers will officially retire June 30.
Judge Frank Caprio, chairman of the Board of Governors for Higher Education spoke after Carothers, and said whomever takes his place will have "big shoes to fill."
He noted some of Carother's accomplishments, including more than $700 million in capital improvements such as the new pharmacy building, the Center of Biotechnology and Life Sciences and an increase in enrollment by more than 2,000 students in the past five years.
The task at hand is now searching for a new president, which begins immediately. Caprio named Thomas Ryan, notable alumns and chairman and chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corporation as the head of the search committee.
Ryan called yesterday a "historic day in the university," and added the search committee needed to find someone who would be "a testament to [Carother's] leadership."
During the press conference, Carothers said the university needed "an outside person, someone who will be aggressively involved in fundraising."
Member of the search committee include Frank Annunziato, executive director of the American Association of University Professors, Brandon Brown, the student member on the BOG and Winifred Brownell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
"It's a mixed group," Ryan said. "We have our challenges ahead of us, but we'll get it done."
According to a press release, the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education has issued a request for proposals to find an executive search firm to help with the choosing process and is also drafting a profile highlighting "required and desirable attributes" of the next URI president.
The position will be advertised by October, and Caprio said there should be a list of viable candidates by the beginning of 2009. An appointment will be made in April or May 2009.
Carothers will officially retire June 30.
Judge Frank Caprio, chairman of the Board of Governors for Higher Education spoke after Carothers, and said whomever takes his place will have "big shoes to fill."
He noted some of Carother's accomplishments, including more than $700 million in capital improvements such as the new pharmacy building, the Center of Biotechnology and Life Sciences and an increase in enrollment by more than 2,000 students in the past five years.
The task at hand is now searching for a new president, which begins immediately. Caprio named Thomas Ryan, notable alumns and chairman and chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corporation as the head of the search committee.
Ryan called yesterday a "historic day in the university," and added the search committee needed to find someone who would be "a testament to [Carother's] leadership."
During the press conference, Carothers said the university needed "an outside person, someone who will be aggressively involved in fundraising."
Member of the search committee include Frank Annunziato, executive director of the American Association of University Professors, Brandon Brown, the student member on the BOG and Winifred Brownell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
"It's a mixed group," Ryan said. "We have our challenges ahead of us, but we'll get it done."
According to a press release, the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education has issued a request for proposals to find an executive search firm to help with the choosing process and is also drafting a profile highlighting "required and desirable attributes" of the next URI president.
The position will be advertised by October, and Caprio said there should be a list of viable candidates by the beginning of 2009. An appointment will be made in April or May 2009.
