The search has officially begun for Brenau University President Ed Schrader’s successor, the Board of Trustees announced this week.

A 16-member search committee of board members, faculty, staff and a student representative will lead the search with Schrader as an adviser.

Schrader, who has led the university since 2005, announced in August that he planned to retire in 2019.

University officials plan to have a new president in place by July.

Schrader has said he plans to assist in the transition through the end of 2019 and then take a one-year sabbatical beginning in January 2020 — after which he will remain as a consultant to the university for five years.

In a memorandum to university students, alumni, faculty and staff, Brenau trustee and search committee chairman Mike Smith said, “Working alongside of our search firm, Hyatt-Fennell, (the committee) is charged with evaluating the pool of qualified candidates assembled, selecting a short-list of semifinalists for ‘airport interviews’ conducted by the search committee, and proposing approximately three candidates to the executive committee for the selection of a potential new president to be voted on by the Board of Trustees.”

Smith said he expects strong interest in the position due to the university's success under Schrader’s leadership.

For example, the university’s budget has nearly tripled to $65 million during Schrader’s tenure, while its endowment has increased to more than $51 million from $26.3 million.

Meanwhile, student enrollment has nearly doubled to 4,000 and the university’s 6,500-piece art collection has grown to an estimated value of $8.3 million.

The search committee has approved the position profile, which is posted on the university website, and applicants have already reached out to the search firm.  

Smith said the committee expects to receive 60 or more applications by the Dec. 10 cutoff date.

Compiled by reporter Joshua Silavent