President
The Idaho State Board of Education and Boise State University invite nominations, expressions
of interest, and applications for the position of President. Boise State University has undergone
a period of unprecedented growth and dramatic transformation. Over the last decade, the
University has experienced a significant increase in its student enrollment, graduate programs,
physical infrastructure, research productivity, and overall economic impact. After fifteen years of
outstanding service to the University, Dr. Robert W. Kustra announced his retirement in Fall 2017
and officially retired from the position in June 2018. For its next President, the campus community
seeks a bold, innovative, and inspiring leader to give shape to the promise of the future while
harnessing the powerful momentum of the recent past.
Boise State University is a metropolitan doctoral research university with more than 25,000
students from all 50 states and 65 countries; strong ties to its community and region and the
area’s industry leaders; and creative and research strengths in materials science and engineering,
geosciences, fine arts, creative writing, biomolecular studies, public policy and more. Located on
the banks of the scenic Boise River, just blocks from the cultural, political and economic center of
Idaho, Boise State’s vibrant campus has undergone a $400 million transformation over the past
15 years. Over the same time period, Boise State more than doubled its graduate programming
and has become a top choice for students from Idaho and across the West. Boise State today
boasts Idaho’s largest graduate school, enrolls nearly one-third of all students in Idaho’s public
higher education system, and confers nearly half of all bachelor’s degrees awarded by the state’s
public universities.
The University has been called “demonstrably on the move” by the Chronicle of Higher Education
and was one of five universities in the country recognized in 2017 by the Association of Public and
Land-Grant Universities for innovative approaches to improving retention and graduation rates.
It has welcomed record-setting first-year classes in the past two years and set a record for the
number of total graduates in each of the past nine years. Additionally, Boise State University has
been named one of the most innovative national universities in the country by U.S. News & World
Report for its 2019 edition. The Carnegie Classification for Institutions of Higher Education (2016)
includes Boise State University among its “Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity”
category. Boise State’s proposed overall budget for fiscal year 2019 is approximately $513 million.
For more information about Boise State University, please visit: https://www.boisestate.edu/
Reporting to the Idaho State Board of Education, the President is the chief executive officer of
the University and has general authority for the leadership and management of the institution
and the strategic deployment of its resources, and in service of the University’s core mission and
shared values. With a broad range of responsibility, the President must be prepared to oversee
various institutional divisions and offices to further advance the University’s commitment to
exemplary instruction and academics, cutting-edge research and discovery, intellectual and
cultural enrichment, and community engagement and economic vitality. As the most visible
member of the Boise State University campus community, the President must be bold, innovative,
and possess the ability to inspire others to reach to new horizons of excellence.
The next President will speak on behalf of the campus community and successfully represent the
University before local, state, and national public agencies and elected officials; the President
should be creative, collaborative, innovative and entrepreneurial and maintain and strengthen
ties with local, national, and international businesses, with the demonstrated ability to engage
philanthropic foundations, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and global
academic community to develop new areas of partnership, collaboration, and mutual support. To
be successful the President will recognize the unique characteristics of the University, the City of
Boise, the State of Idaho, the region, and will become an integral and indispensable member of
the community. The President will then have the opportunity to further connect and extend the
University into the community and across the region. The President must have a great passion for
the role of public higher education and be equally passionate about the unique role that Boise
State University plays in the day-to-day lives of countless many.
Qualifications
Boise State University seeks a thoughtful leader who will provide stability and long-term
commitment to take full advantage of the University’s potential. It is preferred that the successful
candidate possess a terminal degree with a strong record of academic achievement, scholarship,
and teaching, as well as significant administrative experience in a complex environment. The next
President must have experience overseeing financial and budgetary processes at a leadership
level and must have a demonstrated ability to instill fiscal confidence, responsibility and discipline.
The most successful candidates will have leadership experience in organizations with a culture
of collaborative and inclusive decision-making. While academic experience (professional and
administrative) is strongly desired, exceptional candidates with nontraditional backgrounds
who have demonstrated a high degree of national or international success in business, industry,
nonprofit, or government will be considered.
Application and Nomination Process
The Boise State Screening Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will
continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applicants must
submit: a current resume or curriculum vitae and a cover letter describing relevant experience
and interest in the position. Nomination letters should include the name, position, address
and telephone number of the nominee. All applications and nominations will be handled in
confidence.
Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by
email to:
Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner
Email: apsearch@storbeckpimentel.com
or
Navid Nakai
Email: n.nakai@storbeckpimentel.com
Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates
6512 Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90601
Refer to code “Boise State President” in subject line
Boise State University is an equal opportunity employer and educator. The University believes
that commitment to fairness and respect for all creates an environment that is conducive to the
free and open exchange of ideas. Boise State University is committed to provide equal employment
opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment as provided for by federal,
state and local law. The University endeavors to recruit, hire, train, and promote employees in all job
titles in accordance with the University’s Affirmative Action Program. All other personnel actions are
administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, gender identity, national origin, disability,
protected veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other status as protected under
applicable federal, state or local law.