Lindenwood’s search for a new provost is nearing its end, as three of 75 applicants are moving forward in the selection process.

The provost is responsible for the university’s academic operations.  All professors and deans at Lindenwood, as well as academic staff such as in the library and writing center, ultimately report to the provost.

The job opening was posted in October 2019 when Marilyn Abbott, Lindenwood’s current provost, announced that she is going to retire in June of 2020 after more than two decades at the university.

Each candidate will have one day to present themselves and share their professional backgrounds to staff, faculty and members of the student government body on Feb. 3, 4 and 5 at the J. Scheidegger Center’s Lindenwood Theater at 8:45 a.m., according to the Lindenwood faculty digest.

The screening committee will also assign specific topics to each candidate to present on. Attendees will have the opportunity to answer questions from the audience after the presentation, followed by a five-question survey, which will be considered for the final decision of who will be Lindenwood’s new provost.

Deb Ayres, vice president for human resources, declined to release the names of the candidates before the candidate screening presentations.  However, Lindenlink will be allowed to attend the presentations next week.