MORGANTOWN – West Virginia University’s Board of Governors on Monday approved a 20-member committee to search for the university’s next president.

Board of Governors Chairman James W. Dailey II will lead the committee in a non-voting roll. Interim President E. Gordon Gee, who took office last week after being chosen for the position in December, will serve as an advisor and non-voting member.

Additionally, Paul Hill, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, will also serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member.

The committee members were nominated by various constituency groups of the university or appointed by Dailey for the board’s approval.

“I am excited by the people who have been asked to serve by the various constituencies,” Dailey said. “I have no doubt that this group will find the best person possible to take WVU to the next level.”

The board unanimously approved the committee members and authorized the committee to take all necessary steps to conduct its search and proceed with the steps outlined in the approved presidential search procedure.

In addition to Dailey, the committee includes, from the Board of Governors, Thomas V. Flaherty, board vice-chairman and attorney, Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso, PLLC of Charleston; Ellen S. Cappellanti, board secretary and attorney, Jackson Kelly PLLC, of Charleston; and Diane Lewis, president, Action Facilities Management Inc. of Morgantown.

Representatives from the faculty senate include Robert Griffith, associate professor, School of Pharmacy and a faculty representative on the Board of Governors; Carolyn Atkins, professor and director of undergraduate programs in speech pathology and audiology, College of Education and Human Services; and Matt Valenti, professor of electrical engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

The classified staff is represented by Lisa Martin, senior project coordinator, Office of University Events and chair of the Staff Council; Dixie Martinelli, office administrator, WVU Extension Service and staff representative on the BOG; and Paul R. Martinelli, program manager, WVU Extension Service.

From the Student Government Association are Colleen Beatty, a 2012 biology graduate who was an Order of Augusta Scholar and current student in the School of Medicine from Upper Tract; Liz Gulick, a senior majoring in elementary education and member of the WVU Honors college and co-captain of the WVU volleyball team from Wheaton, Ill; and Paul Garton, a senior philosophy and international studies double major and this year’s Mr. Mountaineer from Jane Lew.

The WVU Foundation is represented by Cynthia Roth, president of the foundation and Susan Brewer, member of WVU Foundation board and CEO of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. The WVU Alumni Association is represented by John Fahey, chairman of the association and senior vice-president United Bank Inc. and Jack Rossi, immediate past chair of the association and presiding member of Arnett & Foster PLLC. The divisional campuses are represented by Carolyn Long, campus executive officer, WVU Institute of Technology in Montgomery.

The university’s administration is represented by Elizabeth Dooley, associate provost for undergraduate academic affairs and dean of University College and Robert Jones, dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

The Board has set a goal of having all applications in-hand by late February, with a selection made and ready for HEPC confirmation by early June to be in place by the beginning of the fall 2014 semester.

At its December meeting, the Board adopted guidelines outlining the qualities and characteristics for the search committee to use. The characteristics focus on integrity, leadership, experience, scholarship and vision.

Among the specific characteristics are high ethical standards and character, leadership and experience managing a complex research university with a comprehensive academic medical center, promoting a culture that embraces diversity, experience in state and national settings, an understanding of the land-grant mission, demonstrated fund-raising abilities, a record of scholarship and service and a vision for the future.

Gee, who is not eligible for the permanent position, was named president effective Dec. 31, succeeding James Clements, who announced in November that he had accepted the position of president at Clemson University.