Cartwright, Likins and Stanley Chodorow, provost at the University of Pennsylvania,
interviewed at the Tucson, Ariz. campus last week. Their names were then
forwarded by a search committee to the Arizona Board of Regents for consideration.
According to published reports in today's issues of the Arizona Daily Star
and The Arizona Republic, Likins' experience and his strong ties with the
business community made him the regents' favorite candidate.
The regents are expected to announce their choice for the presidency by
Wednesday.
In an interview today, Cartwright said she told Arizona U officials Monday
she was withdrawing from consideration because leading KSU is more important
to her.
"I have been giving this a lot of thought ... and have come to understand
that my work is not finished at Kent State," Cartwright said. "I
talked with them yesterday...and said, `I wish you well but my priority
is here at Kent State.'
"While the continued success of our strong and resilient institution
does not rest on one person, it became increasingly clear as I articulated
my enthusiasm for Kent State, that in reality, I was reaffirming why I felt
so central to the Kent team," she said. "I want to remain actively
involved as we continue to build our strengths, spirit and momentum."
Cartwright, KSU's president since 1991, had signed a five-year contract
last September, but decided to accept Arizona U's offer to interview because
she wanted to see if the Tucson campus would be right for her, she said
last week.
Upon her return to KSU Thursday, she said the position appeared to be a
good match in terms of the leadership she could provide, however there were
other issues she needed to think more about.
In a letter sent today to KSU's deans, directors and chairmen, Cartwright
said she decided to stay because of the attitude of teamwork, as well as
more personal reasons.
"In our mutual quest for student success, some of you know there is
one Kent student, my own daughter, who is experiencing Kent quality first-hand,"
Cartwright said in her letter. "I am thrilled to know that I will be
conferring her degree next year."
While the KSU Board of Trustees supported Cartwright in her decision to
explore Arizona U, Chairman Ronald Pizzuti said members were pleased to
hear she would be staying.
"Upon learning that she has withdrawn from Arizona's search, I can
tell you that there was a unanimous response of exhilaration from the board,"
he said. "We also were amused with the president's typical back-to-business
response, filled with enthusiasm about welcoming new students and faculty
next fall."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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