Faculty, staff, students and administrators alike all packed Lillis 182 late Wednesday afternoon to meet Michael Gottfredson, the finalist in the presidential search. Gottfredson was chosen by the presidential search committee as the candidate they recommend to the Oregon State Board of Higher Education; his appointment is pending an official board vote Friday, June 15.
He was introduced — and highly praised —  by interim University President Robert Berdahl before speaking to the campus community on his mission and goal as an administrator and how he plans to maintain a level of excellence at the University.
“Our commitment is to provide a world class university at the highest level of research, creative and instructional excellence to the citizens of the state,” Gottfredson said. “It’s a covenant that we have with the state as a public research university.”
Community members were able to pose questions on various topics including institutional boards, student accessibility, diversity and retention of faculty. He was also asked to describe how he plans to fit into the University’s unique system of shared governance.
Emeritus biology professor Frank Stahl asked him if he is comfortable with the framework of shared governance laid out under the University’s constitution, which was unanimously accepted by the University Senate earlier this year.
“I’m comfortable with it because I believe in it. It’s the only way I could imagine running a top-tier research university like Oregon,” Gottfredson said. “Fact of the matter is, I wouldn’t participate in any other kind of university.”
The audience received him well, listening to his ideas with calm enthusiasm. ASUO Sen. Ben Bowman and Sen. Emma Newman said they believe he is someone they can work with and look forward to next year.
“After listening to him speak,” Bowman said. “I think he has a really good sense of what the problems are that we face as a state institution. I’m optimistic that the reforms and the solutions he offers are viable and are something that he can get done.”
“He brought forward a lot of exciting things,” Newman said. “I like his emphasis on collaboration, and I think he’s really going to listen to all the different constituents across campus. I can’t wait to start having some of those conversations and sharing some of those issues that we’re facing.”
The final decision by the board will be made this Friday. If Gottfredson is approved, he will be poised to take over for interim President Berdahl on Aug. 1. He will stay in Eugene this week for more meetings with campus stakeholders and members of the board until the vote on Friday.