RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ) – After more than two hours of closed-door discussions, the Presidential Search Committee at Eastern Kentucky University recommended the university’s Board of Regents make Dr. David McFaddin the permanent president.
McFaddin, an EKU grad, has been serving as interim since last December and has taken the university through the difficult months of the coronavirus outbreak, closing and now reopening.
The recommendation, which must be approved at the Regents’ September meeting, came in the committee’s first meeting since the search was put on hold in March as the outbreak was beginning.
At the time, the 19-member committee had accepted a proposal for William Funk and Associates, one of the nation’s top search firms, but no other steps ever were taken as the committee thought potential applicants would be “consumed” with their current duties during the pandemic.
Funk’s contract expired at the end of June and he’d expressed a willingness to start anew if the committee wanted.
McFaddin’s performance in the last seven months apparently was enough to convince the committee the university needed his stability at this point to continue reopening and dealing with the virus and its impact.
The search committee did recommend Regents continue conversations with stakeholders as part of the process. The vote on McFaddin was unanimous.
The Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents named McFaddin the interim president at its regular board meeting on Dec. 12. He assumd the duties Jan. 6, when Dr. Michael Benson’s resignation took effect.
Before being named interim president, Dr. McFaddin was the senior vice president for operations and strategic initiatives at EKU where he was responsible for programming and operations at EKU’s regional campuses, student life, EKU athletics, dual credit, conferencing and events, communications and brand management, community relations, Model Laboratory School, Student Government Association, WEKU public radio, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, regional stewardship and the Center for Workforce Development, according to an announcement at the time.
He also led EKU’s legislative and policy agenda at all government levels, championing issues that include higher education policy, research funding, public private partnerships and workforce development. He has taught master’s and undergraduate level classes in communications and ethics, the announcement said.
A native of Kentucky, McFaddin holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from EKU. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky and a B.A. summa cum laude from EKU with a major in public relations.
Prior to joining the University, McFaddin held regional and statewide leadership posts with AT&T, a Fortune 10 company and the largest telecommunications provider in the U.S., for nearly 15 years. His tenure there included major legislative, regulatory and strategic initiatives that paved the way for billions of dollars of capital investments in Kentucky.
Members of the Presidential Search Committee were:
Maribeth Berman Alumni Foundation Board
Dr. Dana Bush Faculty Faculty (Chair’s Association)
Dr. Lindsay Calderon Faculty Faculty (Senate)
Sen. Jared Carpenter Community Kentucky General Assembly (State Senate)
Dr. Marco Ciocca Faculty Faculty Senate Chair
Amy Jo Smith Gabel Alumni Alumni Board
Mendi Goble Community Richmond Chamber (Business & Industry)
Ernie House Alumni Alumni Representative
Dr. Vicki Jozefowicz Community Kentucky Community Action (Nonprofit Sector)
Dr. Bryan Makinen+ Staff Staff (BOR Secretary)
Dr. Jason Marion+ Faculty Faculty Regent
Grant Minix Student SGA/CPE Representative
Barry Poynter Staff Staff (Executive Staff)
Jill Price Staff Staff at Large
Dr. Caelin Scott Staff Staff Council President
Dennis J. Sinnett Faculty Faculty at Large (Aviation)
Grant Stepp Staff Staff (Athletics/Development/Staff Council)
Dr. Tanlee Wasson Staff Staff (Enrollment Management)
Dr. Sara Zeigler Faculty Faculty (Dean)
