MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Middle Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees will lead the hunt for the university's next president after taking decisive action during a special called meeting on Tuesday (July 14th).
During the virtual session, the board voted unanimously to establish a 13-member search committee. Following a recommendation by Board Chairman Stephen Smith, the committee will consist of the full 12-member Board of Trustees alongside retired Lt. Gen. Keith M. Huber, who serves as MTSU's senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives.
The full search committee includes:
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Chairman Stephen Smith
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Lt. Gen. Keith M. Huber
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Vice Chair Christine Karbowiak Vanek
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J.B. Baker
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Tom Boyd
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Pete DeLay
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John Floyd
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Jimmy Granbery
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Bill Jones
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Kari Neely (Faculty Trustee)
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RJ Ware (Student Trustee)
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Chad White
This search follows the spring announcement by longtime President Sidney A. McPhee that he will retire at the end of December 2026. McPhee has led the campus for a quarter of a century, guiding MTSU through massive growth and construction. After his retirement, McPhee will take a two-semester sabbatical to prepare to return to the university as a tenured professor in the College of Education.
The board also unanimously approved the hiring of Korn Ferry to handle the national search. Trustee Tom Boyd described Korn Ferry as "the largest search firm in the world." The Los Angeles-based executive recruitment firm has previously directed high-profile presidential searches for major institutions like Texas A&M, the University of Florida, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of South Florida. The board selected Korn Ferry from an initial pool of more than 80 firms.
Chairman Smith noted that while top firms indicated a new president could be in place by January 1st, 2027, the board will now work directly with Korn Ferry to lock down a definitive timeline.
Local input will play a major role in the selection. Smith stated the board plans to host multiple public forums over the coming months to let faculty, staff, students, alumni, and Rutherford County community members share their input before finalists are chosen for face-to-face interviews.
Trustees also approved a key change to the official candidate qualifications, adding a new top priority: "The successful candidate will combine strategic, visionary leadership with operational discipline to ensure that the University continues to adapt to evolving educational, economic, and workforce needs, guiding MTSU confidently into its next era of growth and distinction."
MTSU will launch a dedicated, regularly updated presidential search website on July 15th, 2026, which will be accessible directly from the main university homepage.
