Search under way for next VP, University Counsel, Secretary of Regents

A search committee has begun its work in helping to identify the university’s next Vice President, University Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Regents, a combined position currently held by Dan Wilkerson.

Wilkerson last year announced his intention to retire later this year.

The 10-member committee, co-chaired by Regent Michael Carrigan and Leonard Dinegar, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, met for the first time last week. Other members of the committee: Regent Steve Bosley; Colorado Attorney General John Suthers; John McDowell, D.D.S., School of Dental Medicine; Louise Vale, director, Office of Internal Audit; Ajay Thomas, Intercampus Student Forum Chair; Patty Powell, University of Denver Sturm College of Law; Rebecca Love Kourlis, University of Denver Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System; and Matthew Ramirez, Wood and Ramirez Law Firm. Ex-officio staff members are Lisa Landis, human resource director; and Wynn Pericak, search committee coordinator.

The committee is seeking Colorado attorneys with significant experience representing higher education institutions and/or governmental entities. Internal candidates are preferred.

Applications for the position are due March 26 via Jobs at CU. The committee will select between five and eight candidates to interview at the end of the month; three or four of those will be forwarded to the Board of Regents for consideration.

The regents will determine a finalist or finalists to interview. The regents, in consultation with President Bruce Benson, will elect the new Vice President, University Counsel and Secretary of the Board. The position has a dual report, to the University of Colorado President and to the Board of Regents.

In the proposed timeline, Wilkerson is scheduled to work with the new appointee during a transition period in May, with June 1 set as the target date for the new appointee’s official start.