Blake Curtis, chairman of the New Mexico State University Board of Regents, says Interim President Waded Cruzado isn’t being “dumped.”
Instead, she’s being moved back to her previous position as executive vice president and provost in order to ensure “the integrity of the search” for a new president, he said in an interview.
“Her job performance has been wonderful,” Curtis said. “She’s done a super job … and she’s been very responsive.”
Some legislators say they believe the regents and Richardson administration are forcing Cruzado out. Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings said earlier today that Cruzado is being “dumped.”
“Anything but being dumped,” Curtis said in response. “She’ll be moving back to the second-most prestigious position in the university.”
The move comes as the university ramps up its search for a new president. Cruzado was named interim president last summer after Michael Martin left to be chancellor at Louisiana State University’s main campus in Baton Rouge. After spending $90,000 on the search to replace Martin, the regents scrapped the process late last year, saying a state law that required them to publicly name five finalists hampered the search.
But some also said a movement on campus to make Cruzado the permanent president when she was already interim president created an appearance of a done deal and discouraged potential outside candidates from applying. A brunch held before the regents called off the original search last November fueled that speculation.
The brunch in Cruzado’s honor was hosted by Regent Laura Conniff. Invitations called Cruzado the “first female president of NMSU.”
Curtis acknowledged that some feel the appearance of an insider deal existed.
“Our goal is to bring the best search to the university. We want the best field of candidates,” he said.
Who will be interim president?
Curtis made the announcement of Cruzado’s move back to provost earlier this afternoon in an e-mail to the university community.
“Dr. Waded Cruzado will resume her position as NMSU Executive Vice President and Provost and leave open the possibility of considering an application or nomination for the permanent appointment as NMSU President,” he wrote. “During her time as Interim President, Dr. Cruzado has served NMSU with distinction. Her accomplishments have made us a better institution. We deeply appreciate her dedication to our mission and her willingness to serve.”
Curtis said in the interview that he doesn’t know whether Cruzado will choose to apply for the permanent president job. Cruzado has not returned a call seeking comment.
The regents’ next steps are to form a search committee and name a new interim president.
Curtis was mum on who might get the interim job. The regents meet in closed session this afternoon and publicly on Friday. Asked if an interim president will be named Friday, he said, “I couldn’t speculate on that.”