MTSU Presidential Search: Applications Close Oct. 15, Finalists in November

The deadline for applications and nominations for Middle Tennessee State University's next president is Oct. 15, and the search committee plans to bring finalists to the Murfreesboro campus in November for interviews and public forums. Trustees say the search is on track to replace retiring President Sidney A. McPhee by the end of the year.

Middle Tennessee State University's search for its next president is on track, members of the Presidential Search Committee said at the MTSU Board of Trustees' quarterly meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. The deadline for applications and nominations is Thursday, Oct. 15, and the committee plans to select finalists in November to visit the Murfreesboro campus for interviews and public forums.

The new leader will be MTSU's 11th president, succeeding Sidney A. McPhee, who announced earlier this year that he will retire in December after more than 25 years as the university's chief executive.

What Is the MTSU Presidential Search Timeline?

According to MTSU News, the committee's plan after the Oct. 15 deadline is:

1. Review submissions of applications and nominations. 2. Identify candidates for further consideration. 3. Conduct initial interviews. 4. Select finalists in November and invite them to campus for interviews and public forums.

Board Chair Stephen B. Smith said at the meeting that the goal is a smooth transition and that he expects that to happen. Vice Chair Christine Karbowiak Vanek called the proposed timeline, which runs to roughly the end of the year, realistic, but said the board is looking for the right person and will keep searching if the timeline does not allow for that.

MTSU has not yet announced dates for the campus forums.

Who Is on the MTSU Search Committee?

All 12 members of the MTSU Board of Trustees serve on the Presidential Search Committee. They are joined by retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, the university's senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives.

MTSU hired Korn Ferry, a Los Angeles-based global organizational consulting firm, to assist with the search.

Are There Already Candidates?

Not that the trustees have seen. Trustee Tom Boyd said Korn Ferry has been tasked with collecting the names of applicants and nominees and that the committee has not yet seen the list, so there are no "pre-selected" candidates. Committee members said they expect more applicants to come forward before the mid-October deadline.

How Did MTSU Gather Input?

Smith said the committee held numerous listening sessions in September with various constituency groups, totaling more than 15 hours, and that extensive notes were taken on what those groups think the university should look for in its next president.

MTSU says more information about the search process is available on the university's homepage at mtsu.edu.

Other Board Action on Sept. 28

At the same meeting, MTSU trustees also:

• Approved the appointment of Dr. Linda Gibson-Young as the Adams Chair of Excellence in Health Care Services. She currently serves as the Dr. Bill Lazenby Endowed Professor in Auburn University's College of Nursing.
• Approved the university's 10-year facilities master plan, which outlines priorities including improved program organization, facility modernization and targeted new construction.

Why It Matters for Murfreesboro

MTSU is one of Murfreesboro's largest institutions, and the president's office shapes everything from campus growth to events at Floyd Stadium and Murphy Center. The board's meeting took place at the Miller Education Center, where the university recently began building an IBM cyber range. For more on the university, see OnlyInMurfreesboro's MTSU guide, plus the MTSU graduation guide and MTSU football page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the deadline to apply for MTSU president?

The deadline for applications and nominations is Oct. 15, 2026.

When will MTSU name presidential finalists?

The search committee plans to select finalists in November 2026 and invite them to campus for interviews and public forums.

Who is retiring as MTSU president?

Sidney A. McPhee announced earlier this year that he will retire in December after more than 25 years as MTSU's president.

Who is helping MTSU with the presidential search?

MTSU hired Korn Ferry, a Los Angeles-based global organizational consulting firm, to assist the Presidential Search Committee.

Who is on the MTSU Presidential Search Committee?

All 12 MTSU trustees serve on the committee, along with retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, the university's senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives.

Sources: MTSU News: MTSU Board of Trustees updates presidential search process.

*Photo: MTSU photo by J. Intintoli. Board of Trustees Chair Stephen B. Smith discusses the presidential search process during the board's Sept. 28 meeting at the Miller Education Center.*