MUNCIE — Ball State University isn't ruling out a CEO or politician as its next president, as long as his or her prior work experience includes academia, says the chairman of the presidential search committee.
Would someone like former Gov. Mitch Daniels, now the president of Purdue University, qualify for example?
"I don't know what his background is," said Matt Momper, a BSU trustee from Fort Wayne who is chairing the search. "I wouldn't feel comfortable commenting on that."
During open campus forums on presidential selection, trustees heard "loud and clear" that whatever sector the next president hails from, "they would definitely have to have the academia part in it …" Momper said in an interview.
He noted that acting Ball State President Terry King formerly worked as a researcher for Exxon Chemical Co. and that former BSU President Paul Ferguson at one time was a research biologist for agricultural chemical producer Pennwalt Corp. and a senior toxicologist for Union Oil Company of California, creator of the Union 76 gasoline brand. Both men, however, spent decades in higher education before becoming Ball State president.
Before evolving into Purdue president, Daniels had long careers in the public and business sectors, including CEO of the conservative Hudson Institute think tank and as president of Eli Lilly's North American Pharmaceutical Operations.