Board of Trustees forms search committee to find new APSU president
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – During a special called meeting on Friday, Aug. 21, Austin Peay State University’s Board of Trustees established a 23-member search committee to help find a highly qualified individual to serve as the University’s 11th president. Earlier this month, Dr. Alisa White left APSU after six years to serve as president of Sam Houston State University in Texas. Dannelle Whiteside, vice president for legal affairs, was named interim president.
“Finding just the right leadership to guide the University in the years to come is a significant responsibility,” Michael O’Malley, search committee chair and chairman of the APSU Board of Trustees, said in a letter to campus on Friday. “We are grateful for the willingness these committee members have demonstrated to give of their time and insights to this important process.”
The committee – made of APSU faculty, staff, students and alumni, along with trustees, community members and civic leaders – will work with Storbeck Search & Associates, a national higher education leadership search firm, to conduct a national search. The search committee members include:
- Michael O’Malley, search committee chair, APSU Board of Trustees chairman.
- Billy Atkins, search committee vice chair, APSU Board of Trustees.
- Katherine Cannata, APSU Board of Trustees vice chair.
- Abbey Hogan, APSU Board of Trustees student trustee.
- Keri McInnis (’95), APSU Board of Trustees.
- Brig. Gen. Robin Mealer (’00), APSU Board of Trustees.
- Dr. Mickey Wadia, APSU Board of Trustees faculty trustee and professor of languages and literature.
- Elaine Berg, professor of library sciences.
- Dr. Harold Young, associate professor of political science and public management.
- Kito Aruh, Student Government Association president.
- Hannah Allen (’18), senior administrative assistant to the vice president for finance and administration.
- Vanessya Fountain (’02), administrative assistant to the associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
- Megan Mitchell (’14), staff senate president and director of graduate admissions and recruitment.
- Gerald Harrison, director of athletics.
- Dr. Kristine Nakutis, executive director of Austin Peay Center at Fort Campbell.
- Kris Phillips (’91), assistant vice president for University Advancement and Alumni Relations.
- Mike Krause (’07), executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
- Joe Shakeenab (’04), National Alumni Association president.
- Jim Durrett, Montgomery County mayor.
- Joe Pitts (’80), Clarksville mayor.
- Jeff Bibb (’76), owner of JV Bibb – Consulting/PR.
- Joe Maynard, CEO and majority owner of Echo Power Engineering.
- Khandra Smalley (’05), senior vice president of marketing research at F&M Bank.
Storbeck Search & Associates will work with the search committee to identify candidates and assist the committee in making its recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The firm previously assisted in the University’s provost search, which brought Dr. Maria Cronley campus.
In the coming weeks, students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends of the University will receive an email survey seeking their input on the presidential search.
“After gathering information from the campus, the consulting team, in conjunction with the search committee, will create the search prospectus, an important document that will describe the University, as well as the leadership agenda for the next president,” O’Malley said in his letter to campus. “This profile will be an important recruitment tool as we move forward with the search.”
The University will provide more updates on the presidential search as the process continues over the next few months.
News Feed
View All News
The Department of Health and Human Performance will host its inaugural Health and Performance Summit on Saturday, Oct. 17, in the Health Professions Building, bringing together nationally recognized leaders in strength and conditioning, sports science, healthcare, and tactical performance.
Read More
Shirley Conner, assistant director of Austin Peay State University's Veterans Upward Bound program, has guided hundreds of military-affiliated students into higher education through federally funded support services including admissions assistance, financial aid guidance, and career counseling.
Read More
The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees has announced its 2026 award recipients, recognizing Billy Atkins, Dr. Michelle D. Smith, and Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp for their contributions to the university and community.
Read More