Search for Purdue’s next president enters final stage

WEST LAFAYETTE – Purdue University’s presidential search is entering its final stages, with an announcement possibly within two weeks, a search official said.\nBill Funk of R. William Funk & Associates, the firm Purdue hired to help with the search, said the school’s search committee has handed the search to the trustees. Since the search committee’s charge was to find finalists, a decision could be coming soon, possibly within two weeks.\n“I think we’re in the late stages of the search,” Funk said.\nTrustees have been mum on the number of candidates left in the race, however, out of concern that sought-after candidates will drop out of the race if their names are made public.\nFunk said many universities have lost good candidates that way.\nThe search comes as President Martin Jischke plans to retire June 30 after being Purdue’s top administrator for seven years. Officials have said they plan to name Jischke’s successor in late spring.\nPurdue spokesman Joe Bennett said the search had been narrowed but declined to say how many candidates the trustees are considering. He confirmed, however, that Purdue Provost Sally Mason has been considered as a candidate but would not say whether she is still in the running.\nMason said this week she is not at liberty to discuss the search.