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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dear East Texas A&M Community:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I am pleased to share that we have begun taking initial steps to launch the search for the University's next Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPRED), given Dr. Brent
Donham’s retirement announcement. This includes identifying a search firm, and appointing a Search Committee, whose members are listed below:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dr. Andrea Graham, Dean, College of Science and Engineering<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dr. Joseph Romero, Dean, College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Art<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dr. Grace Ogden, Assistant Professor, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dr. Maria Carlson, Department Head, Psychology and Special Education<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dr. Michael Oldham, Assistant Professor, Health and Human Performance<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dr. Lucy Pickering, Director of Research Integrity and Compliance
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ms. Shannon Pruden, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Philanthropy and Engagement<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dr. Tammi Vacha-Haase, Search Committee Chair
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We have engaged
<a href="http://www.wittkieffer.com">WittKieffer</a> to support the work of the Search Committee in this important search. WittKieffer is one of the leading executive search firms in higher education,
<a name="_Hlk198709842">conducting hundreds of search and leadership advisory assignments for colleges and universities each year</a>, and I am looking forward to working with Ryan Crawford and his team.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As the Search Committee and WittKieffer begin their work, they invite your input on opportunities, challenges, and expectations for the next VPRED. The following listening sessions will
be held to gather input from constituents:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Listening Sessions <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">February 3 – 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. (for Academic Deans)
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Zoom: <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tamuc.zoom.us/j/93382763843__;!!GTF8f0q2V2sp!9kOLuJZqVkF2MtaEOXnlzIR_l_AgzezfKXTb48hLKGKfRBwPEtwYBQ4ZMkBZyRXDBHILbfLCkNzO5pJJRrV5lxar0E2TXOfN$">
https://tamuc.zoom.us/j/93382763843</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">February 3 – 10 a.m. (for Faculty & Staff)
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Zoom Link:
</span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tamuc.zoom.us/j/93923364780__;!!GTF8f0q2V2sp!9kOLuJZqVkF2MtaEOXnlzIR_l_AgzezfKXTb48hLKGKfRBwPEtwYBQ4ZMkBZyRXDBHILbfLCkNzO5pJJRrV5lxar0AhoQDmA$">https://tamuc.zoom.us/j/93923364780</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">February 3 - 3:30 p.m. (for Faculty & Staff)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Zoom Link:
</span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tamuc.zoom.us/j/93092662472__;!!GTF8f0q2V2sp!9kOLuJZqVkF2MtaEOXnlzIR_l_AgzezfKXTb48hLKGKfRBwPEtwYBQ4ZMkBZyRXDBHILbfLCkNzO5pJJRrV5lxar0D6TRRnA$">https://tamuc.zoom.us/j/93092662472</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">February 4 – 10:00 a.m. (for Students)
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Zoom Link:
</span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tamuc.zoom.us/j/99319202849__;!!GTF8f0q2V2sp!9kOLuJZqVkF2MtaEOXnlzIR_l_AgzezfKXTb48hLKGKfRBwPEtwYBQ4ZMkBZyRXDBHILbfLCkNzO5pJJRrV5lxar0JwvsGq3$">https://tamuc.zoom.us/j/99319202849</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">February 4 - 3:30 p.m. (for Students) <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Zoom Link: <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tamuc.zoom.us/j/91688672241__;!!GTF8f0q2V2sp!9kOLuJZqVkF2MtaEOXnlzIR_l_AgzezfKXTb48hLKGKfRBwPEtwYBQ4ZMkBZyRXDBHILbfLCkNzO5pJJRrV5lxar0B0A2L8r$">
https://tamuc.zoom.us/j/91688672241</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Feedback is also welcomed through
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETAMU-VPRED-ConstituentFeedback">this survey</a>. It is preferred responses are received by February 5<sup>th</sup>, but the survey will remain open throughout the search.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Please make sure to take part in this early process of the search. We want to hear from you; your voice matters!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In addition, as the search moves forward, I strongly encourage you to submit nominations and recommendations to WittKieffer and the Search Committee through the following e-mail address:</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">
<a href="mailto:rcrawford@wittkieffer.com">rcrawford@wittkieffer.com</a>.</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Please include the institution or organization where the nominee is employed. Contact information and comments are helpful but
not required.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Thank you for your insights and help identifying prospective candidates as we launch this important search. The Search Committee plans to identify finalists who will meet with the campus
community before the end of the spring semester. We will provide updates on the search as it continues to progress.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Tammi Vacha-Haase, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">East Texas A&M University
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Administration Building<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Commerce, TX 75428<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.tamuc.edu/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="250" height="33" style="width:2.6041in;height:.3472in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.gif@01DC8F7E.BFD71F30" alt="TAMUC logo"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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