Fresh off AD search, trustees push for more search survey responses. Plus, former Wabash Twp. trustee’s backpay, defamation lawsuit set for trial in 2027. What’s behind delays on SR225 bridge repairs.
--State legislature that is increasingly likely to interfere with university operations and censor class content
--State attorney general and lieutenant governor who will attack university in bad faith if it serves their ambition to do so
--Tuition freeze that leaves little budgetary latitude to pursue own initiatives
--Former president lurking in the background with influence on board if he doesn't like what you're doing
Of course there are plenty of ambitious people who'll still want to do it. I'm sure Mitch is working his contacts for Republican friends who are term-limited or who might lose in November.
“Sitting presidents that have a great track record, you don’t find them very willing to move,” Lehman said. “If they’re very comfortable where they’re at, with the challenges that higher ed has now, if they’re getting along with their board, they’re getting along with their regents or governors, if they’re getting along with their faculty, if they’re getting along with their alumni, if they’re getting along with their legislators, if they’re getting along with the federal, if they’re getting along with the governors of their states, they’re saying, ‘I think I’ll sit still.’ I understand that. “
Which of the above would he say that lost Mung Chiang?
No worries about legislators or the governor at Northwestern. But they have patients at the hospitals, a satellite campus in a war zone, and a bunch of pissed off staff thanks to the last President. These aren't easy jobs.
I think Purdue was a stepping stone. Northwestern will be as well. I think he wants to be President at a place like MIT or Stanford. Opportunities for his wife’s medical career were also limited here.
Makes sense about both. His wife's career in the Chicago area with several major medical centers there. And the stepping stone. Purdue and Northwestern are great schools, but I can see some intentional planning to move in the direction you named.
"If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana" - what a completely stupid thing to say in 2026
Challenges for potential presidential hire:
--State legislature that is increasingly likely to interfere with university operations and censor class content
--State attorney general and lieutenant governor who will attack university in bad faith if it serves their ambition to do so
--Tuition freeze that leaves little budgetary latitude to pursue own initiatives
--Former president lurking in the background with influence on board if he doesn't like what you're doing
Of course there are plenty of ambitious people who'll still want to do it. I'm sure Mitch is working his contacts for Republican friends who are term-limited or who might lose in November.
Per Gary Lehman,
“Sitting presidents that have a great track record, you don’t find them very willing to move,” Lehman said. “If they’re very comfortable where they’re at, with the challenges that higher ed has now, if they’re getting along with their board, they’re getting along with their regents or governors, if they’re getting along with their faculty, if they’re getting along with their alumni, if they’re getting along with their legislators, if they’re getting along with the federal, if they’re getting along with the governors of their states, they’re saying, ‘I think I’ll sit still.’ I understand that. “
Which of the above would he say that lost Mung Chiang?
Of that list, I suppose faculty would be my first thought.
No worries about legislators or the governor at Northwestern. But they have patients at the hospitals, a satellite campus in a war zone, and a bunch of pissed off staff thanks to the last President. These aren't easy jobs.
Mung had those things. He just wanted more for himself and his family.
Good point. What would those “more” things be? Are they something that Purdue could offer? Or just things about the area that are what they are?
I think Purdue was a stepping stone. Northwestern will be as well. I think he wants to be President at a place like MIT or Stanford. Opportunities for his wife’s medical career were also limited here.
Makes sense about both. His wife's career in the Chicago area with several major medical centers there. And the stepping stone. Purdue and Northwestern are great schools, but I can see some intentional planning to move in the direction you named.