Search Committee
Committee Charge
In turn and in accordance with the Regents’ Rules, the Board of Regents set forth the following charge to guide the Texas Tech University Presidential Search Committee in fulfilling its duties.
The President Search Committee consists of 12 members who represent various campus constituencies, including students, deans, faculty and alumni. Working in conjunction with a search consultant, the committee will help identify potential candidates, assist with initial screenings, and report its recommendations to the Board of Regents and the Chancellor.
The Board of Regents, with a recommendation from the Chancellor, will make the final decision of selecting the next president of Texas Tech University.
To fulfill this charge (Search Committee Charge), all members of the President Search Committee have signed a Code of Ethics and Confidentiality Agreement that prohibits them from publicly identifying any person who is being considered for the position.
Committee Members
Members of the search committee include:
- Tim Lancaster, Board of Regents, Committee Chairman: Mr. Lancaster has been a board member since 2013. He chairs the Academic, Clinical and Student Affairs Committee. He is president and CEO of Hendrick Health System in Abilene.
- F. Scott Dueser, Board of Directors, Texas Tech Foundation: Mr. Dueser serves as chairman, president and CEO of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. in Abilene. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the Rawls College of Business in 2006. He is a former Texas Tech University System Board of Regents chairman.
- John D. Esparza, Board of Regents: Mr. Esparza has been a board member since 2013. He chairs the Board of Trustees of the Carr Scholarship Foundation at Angelo State University. Mr. Esparza is president and CEO of Texas Trucking Association and previously served as a senior adviser to former Gov. Rick Perry.
- Michael C. Farmer, Faculty Senate President: Dr. Farmer is an associate professor of natural resource economics in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources. He holds a dual appointment in the Departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics and Natural Resources Management.
- Linda C. Hoover, Dean, College of Human Sciences: Dean Hoover was named to her current post Jan. 1, 2003. She joined the faculty in the nutrition, hospitality and retailing department in the College of Human Sciences in 1990. She has raised the college’s national profile through her commitment to students, research and excellence.
- W. Brent Lindquist, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences: Dean Lindquist began his duties July 15, 2014. Prior to coming to Texas Tech University, he served as deputy provost at Stony Brook University, where he served in various capacities for 15 years. Dean Lindquist oversees the largest college at Texas Tech University. He is a widely published researcher who holds a doctorate in theoretical particle physics from Cornell University.
- Don Maddox, Board of Directors, Texas Tech Foundation: Mr. Maddox is past president and director emeritus of the J.F Maddox Foundation in Hobbs, N.M. The foundation has been a longtime philanthropic partner of Texas Tech University, recently committing $7.5 million to support research activities in the Whitacre College of Engineering and renovate the Engineering and Materials Research Center.
- Victoria Messer, Student Regent: Ms. Messer was named Student Regent last year. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas Tech University and is pursuing her law degree from the Texas Tech University School of Law. She has served as a student intern for former Texas Sen. Robert Duncan and state Rep. Drew Darby.
- Linda B. Rutherford, President, National Board of Directors of the Texas Tech Alumni Association: Ms. Rutherford serves as vice president and chief communications officer at Southwest Airlines and has been with Southwest since 1992. She holds a journalism degree from Texas Tech University and was named an Outstanding Alumnus by the College of Media and Communication in 2002.
- John D. Steinmetz, Board of Regents: Mr. Steinmetz has been a board member since 2011. He chairs the Audit Committee. He is president and CEO of Vista Bank. Mr. Steinmetz is a former Texas Tech University Student Government Association president.
- Holton Westbrook, President of the Texas Tech Student Government Association: Mr. Westbrook is a senior Agricultural Economics major from Stephenville. He also is a member of President’s Select and served two years in the Student Senate as senator.
- Aliza Wong, Former Faculty Senate President, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Honors College: Dr. Wong joined the Honors College administration in 2014 and has been teaching in the history department since 2001. She serves as Director of European Studies and served three terms as a senator on the Faculty Senate. She has been honored with numerous teaching awards.
In addition to the committee, the following Texas Tech University System leaders have been asked to serve as resources available to the committee:
- Dr. Tedd Mitchell, President, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Dr. Brian May, President, Angelo State University
- Dr. Richard Lange, President, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso
- Lisa D. Calvert, Vice Chancellor, Institutional Advancement, Texas Tech University System