Updates and Messages

December 2, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

Today at the regular quarterly meeting of the USA Board of Trustees, our new president, Jo Bonner, was officially introduced to the board and the administration, and he offered some words about his thoughts and plans.

For those of you who were unable to attend the meeting or watch the livestream, I’d like to provide you with a copy of today’s remarks by Mr. Bonner, which are attached below.

Jimmy Shumock, Chair pro tempore
USA Board of Trustees

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Remarks by President Jo Bonner

December 2, 2021

Thank you, Chairman Shumock.

First of all, I want to acknowledge what a tremendous honor this appointment is and express my heartfelt gratitude for the support from so many members of the Board, the faculty and staff, our alumni and students, the USA Foundation, as well as the outpouring of encouragement from friends throughout the community and around the state and nation.

Needless to say, I am deeply humbled to be standing here today as the fourth president of the University of South Alabama. While this is not a moment I ever imagined as a young man – or even planned for during my years of public service – it is, without question, an opportunity of a lifetime that both Janée and I embrace with every ounce of energy and every measure of gratitude that we have.

We could not be more excited to be at this moment – in both our personal lives and in the life of this great university – as we join hands with so many others to help build on the foundation upon which the University of South Alabama began some 58 years ago.

At USA’s dedication in October of 1964, our founding president, Dr. Fred Whiddon, said, “We dedicate our efforts to those high purposes for which it is founded: to the banishment of ignorance, to the enrichment of personal life, to the development of those individual talents and skills that will enable each person who studies within these walls of our University to serve to the fullest the needs of his fellow man.”

Today, at this very moment, we have the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to that core mission with an emphasis on continuing to build, continuing to grow, continuing to serve, and continuing to lead and excel.

If he were with us today, I believe Dr. Whiddon would be the first to acknowledge that the history of our University was not written by one person, but it has been authored by more than 85,000 proud alumni, even more students, as well as thousands of dedicated faculty, staff and administrators and a relatively small, but dedicated number of men and women who, throughout the years, have helped chart our course by serving as members of the University’s Board of Trustees.

To each person – but especially to our alumni who chose South Alabama as their place to earn a degree that has helped advance their careers and dreams – I realize Janée and I have a significant responsibility to work our hearts out so that your investment in South – and South’s investment in you – only continues to grow and appreciate in value for the rest of your lives. We can’t wait to get started!

I have mentioned my wife, Janée, twice now. Allow me to make a more formal introduction, South Alabama, by introducing you to your new First Lady. Janée Lambert Bonner is not only my best friend and life partner, she’s the best wife and mother to our children, Lee and Robins, any person could ever hope for.

And I am confident she’s going to be a visible and highly active partner in everything we attempt to do on behalf of this outstanding University.

There are a few other people I would like to acknowledge on a special day such as this but, before I do, I would like to speak first to the faculty – and others – who have raised concerns about my non-traditional background.

As I said throughout the entire interview and search process, while I have not made my name – or earned my reputation – in the halls of higher education, I have spent my entire life working with many of you who have, and I not only recognize what you do, I acknowledge it, embrace it and pledge my all to complement what you do in the areas of teaching, research and service, by doing everything humanly possible to help you become even more recognized, supported and appreciated as the valuable resources you are to our state, our nation and our world.

Let me be clear: I fully appreciate that I will have to earn the respect of this appointment by my actions, not my words today. But there will be no more sincere effort ever made than the one I pledge going forward, and that is to learn from you, to hear your concerns and to join with you in building a relationship that is based on mutual respect and shared goals.

All I can ask from those who might still have concerns is to meet me halfway and give us a chance to show everyone else what all we can accomplish by working together.

Lastly, I have a message for our students – all of our students, no matter what your background is or what your goals and aspirations are.

No university should be measured by the amount of ivy on its walls, the number of years it has been around or how many shelves it takes to hold the trophies in its trophy case.

They should be measured by how they help their students succeed.

And at the University of South Alabama, our priority has always been about our students.

It’s about how we treat them when they first arrive on campus – like when our faculty and staff come together every year for move-in day to welcome the new freshmen, helping them unpack their cars to get ready for their new lives on campus.

And it’s about how we encourage them to grow and develop and explore.

The great universities – and South Alabama is a great one – are committed to helping their students get a quality education that is both affordable and accessible to all. This isn’t a challenge that is unique to South; all universities need to do everything we can to help students stay in school and graduate. That is one of our immediate challenges and it’s one where I know our faculty will help us be successful.

Because at the University of South Alabama, our students will always be at the heart of our core mission.

Until now, only three presidents have been given the ultimate distinction of putting their signatures on the diplomas of our graduates. What a tremendous honor that comes with this awesome responsibility.

It is my sincere hope – and my fervent prayer – that when this chapter of South’s history is written, we will look back on this as a time when we built on President Whiddon’s bold and ambitious vision, we reignited the transformational leadership and personal touch of President Gordon Moulton and his wonderful wife, Geri, and we added to the enhancements in the area of research and academics that were championed by President Tony Waldrop.

Throughout my life, it seems I have always found a way to follow in the footsteps of giants by working with leaders who were not afraid to tackle old problems or make tough decisions. As such, I know a little something about the importance of having good role models who, at different times in my life, have helped me hone my skills and talents to become a better servant-leader.

Each of these mentors – and there are many – have taught me a lot about life, about respect for others and about the value of listening, serving and leading.

One, in particular, I want to recognize is the humble example of the first member of my family to become a university president, my sister, Judy.

You see, Judy never aspired to become the first female president of The University of Alabama; she only wanted to be the best she could be in whatever job she had and whatever role she played.

However, by focusing on being the best – instead of worrying about what the job or title was – she ended up becoming a role model for many on her campus because she was always more interested in doing the right thing, for the right reason.

Needless to say, I hope the same can be said, one day, of my administration and our success here at the University of South Alabama.

One last person I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to is our Interim President John Smith and his wife, Jeanne.

Dr. Smith has worn many different hats during his many years here at South. But no job was too big – and no task was too small – for this man who brought sound judgment and genuine goodness and humility to work every single day.

John, we owe you and Jeanne our heartfelt thanks.

Thank you, again, Chairman Shumock and members of the Board for this special honor. There’s only one more thing to add...Go Jags!

November 10, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

I’m pleased to let you know that at a special meeting of the USA Board of Trustees today, the Board selected Mr. Jo Bonner as the next president of the University of South Alabama.

We are delighted that our comprehensive national search has resulted in the decision to bring Mr. Bonner to USA as our fourth president. He is a proven innovator, a skilled administrator and a respected, admired and influential leader in our state. With his leadership, we look forward to the continued elevation of the University of South Alabama’s reputation as a leading academic, research and healthcare institution.

The University community will have an opportunity to meet Mr. Bonner when he is formally introduced and welcomed at the next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees on Dec. 2. You can read more about Mr. Bonner on the USA website or the President Search website.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I thank the members of the President Search Committee for their dedication and diligence in moving this process forward. The Board also thanks the entire University community for your participation in the process.

Jimmy Shumock, Chair pro tempore
USA Board of Trustees

October 22, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

The University community is invited to attend an open forum with Dr. Michael Tidwell, finalist candidate for the position of USA president, at 11 a.m. on Oct. 26 in the Mitchell Center. At this event, the candidate will make a statement and take questions from the attendees.

Attendees at the open forum are encouraged to arrive early and sign up to receive a follow-up survey that will allow participants to provide feedback on each candidate to the Board of Trustees.

Doors to the Mitchell Center will be open approximately one hour before the event. Attendees must use the South Entrance to the arena (closest to Old Shell Road). Parking will be limited, so please plan to walk or take the JagTran to the Mitchell Center if possible.

Information about the candidates is available on the President Search website.

Thank you for your participation in the president search process.

Jimmy Shumock, Chair pro tempore
USA Board of Trustees

October 13, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

The University community is invited to attend an open forum with Dr. Damon Andrew, finalist candidate for the position of USA president, at 11 a.m. on Oct. 15 in the Mitchell Center. At this event, the candidate will make a statement and take questions from the attendees.

Attendees at the open forum are encouraged to arrive early and sign up to receive a follow-up survey that will allow participants to provide feedback on each candidate to the Board of Trustees.

Information about the candidates is available on the President Search website.

Thank you for your participation in the president search process.

Jimmy Shumock, Chair pro tempore
USA Board of Trustees

October 8, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

The University community is invited to attend an open forum with Mr. Jo Bonner, finalist candidate for the position of USA president, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the Mitchell Center. At this event, the candidate will make a statement and take questions from the attendees.

Attendees at the open forum are encouraged to arrive early and sign up to receive a follow-up survey that will allow participants to provide feedback on the candidate to the Board of Trustees.

Information about the candidates is available on the President Search website.

Thank you for your participation in the president search process.

Jimmy Shumock, Chair pro tempore
USA Board of Trustees

October 7, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

I’m pleased to let you know that the USA Board of Trustees has voted to accept the recommendations of the President Search Committee and will invite three finalists to interview for the position of USA President in the next few weeks.

Our search for the next president of South, which yielded significant interest from a broad array of candidates, demonstrates that our University has an outstanding reputation across the nation. The search committee had the difficult task of narrowing an exceptional field of candidates, and on behalf of the entire University of South Alabama community, I thank them for their hard work.

The finalists for the position of USA President are (in alphabetical order):

Dr. Damon Andrew, Dean and Professor, College of Education, Florida State University
Mr. Jo Bonner, Chief of Staff to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey
Dr. Michael Tidwell, Immediate Past President, The University of Texas at Tyler

Detailed information about each finalist is available on the USA President Search website. Each finalist will meet with members of the University community, and an online feedback survey for each candidate will be made available. Please mark your calendar and take advantage of the opportunities you will have to engage with each finalist and to provide feedback to the Board of Trustees.

The schedule of open forums for the University community is as follows:

11 a.m., Oct. 12, USA Mitchell Center — Mr. Jo Bonner
11 a.m., Oct. 15, USA Mitchell Center — Dr. Damon Andrew
11 a.m., Oct. 26, USA Mitchell Center — Dr. Michael Tidwell

After reviewing feedback from the finalists’ campus visits, the Board of Trustees will meet to discuss its selection for president. The new president’s start date will be determined by their individual circumstances and will be announced after discussion with the selected candidate.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this process. Your input and continued participation will be a critical part of selecting the next president of our University.

Jimmy Shumock, Chair pro tempore
University of South Alabama Board of Trustees

September 22, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

I’m writing to provide the University community with an update on our president search.

The Search Committee recently conducted two days of in-depth interviews with a group of semifinalist candidates. The committee was pleased with the level of interest in the position and with the qualifications of each candidate selected for an interview. The committee then had the difficult task of narrowing the field to a small group of potential finalists who will be recommended to the USA Board of Trustees for consideration.

Our search consultant, R. William Funk & Associates, is in the process of following up with each of the desired finalists to confirm their interest in moving onto the next phase of the process. The search consultant will provide us with the results of those conversations, and the Board of Trustees will meet to consider the recommendations of the Search Committee.

The outcome of the Board’s consideration of the recommended finalists will be announced to the University community by Chair pro tempore Jimmy Shumock. The committee will work with the Board to provide opportunities for the University community to meet the finalists and provide feedback to the Board of Trustees, which will make a decision about the next president.

I thank and commend the members of the Search Committee for their hard work and dedication to the search process, and look forward to the next steps in selecting the next president of the University of South Alabama.

Alexis Atkins, Trustee
Chair of the President Search Committee

August 17, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Employees and Students,

I’m writing to provide the University community with an update on our president search. I’m pleased with the progress that we have made and with the level of interest that has been expressed by many potential candidates.

During the month of July, Board of Trustees Chair Pro Tempore Jimmy Shumock and I conducted more than 20 meetings with internal and external stakeholder groups to ask for input on the desired characteristics and experience of our next president, as well as on the challenges and opportunities for which our next president will need to be prepared. These meetings were both productive and insightful, and the information that we gathered was shared with the entire President Search Committee to help guide us.

The priority deadline for candidates to submit their materials was Aug. 1, and since then the President Search Committee has met twice to discuss the candidate pool and the next steps in the process.

Our search consultant, R. William Funk & Associates, contacted 128 people about the presidency at South. Of those who were contacted, more than 40 individuals indicated their interest in being considered as active candidates. At our Aug. 3 meeting, our consultant reported that the reception in the marketplace was positive, that South was viewed favorably by potential candidates, and that the University’s location was appealing. At the same meeting, search committee members were each asked to review the active candidate files, make an unranked list of the eight candidates they felt the Search Committee should interview, and forward their list to the search consultant.

The Search Committee met again on Aug. 12. At that meeting, our search consultant advised the committee about the names of the candidates who had been selected by committee members for further consideration. The committee engaged in a productive and constructive discussion about the candidates who were listed as potential interviewees by the search committee members, and then agreed upon a short list of semifinalists who will be interviewed in the near future by the committee.

After the semifinalist interviews, the committee expects to further refine the list and recommend a slate of candidates to the USA Board of Trustees. The committee will work with the Board to provide opportunities for the University community to meet the finalists and provide feedback to the Board of Trustees, which will make a decision about the next president.

I want to thank the members of the Search Committee for their diligence and dedication, which has allowed our process to move along efficiently and effectively. I look forward to providing the University community with additional information in the near future.

Alexis Atkins
USA Trustee and Chair, President Search Committee

May 28, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

I’m writing to provide you with an update on the progress of the President Search Committee as we embark upon the search for the next president of our University.

The search committee has met several times over the past month to discuss the process and the desired qualifications for the next president. Included in those discussions have been representatives from our search consultant, R. William Funk & Associates. The committee has approved advertising to be placed in a number of national publications, and has developed and finalized a leadership statement that provides a comprehensive overview of the University and the position for potential candidates. In addition, the committee has sent individual letters to many leaders and friends of the University to encourage them to nominate individuals for consideration.

All of the information related to the search, including the position profile and information on how to nominate candidates, is contained on the President Search Website.

Over the next few months, our search consultant will be accepting applications and nominations for the position, and will be providing updates to the committee on a regular basis. The committee will most likely not need to meet again until it is time to begin reviewing candidates, and I will provide the University community with an update as that part of the process gets underway.

Alexis Atkins
Secretary, USA Board of Trustees
Chair, President Search Committee

April 15, 2021, Message to the University Community

Dear USA Students, Faculty and Staff,

This week the Executive Committee of the USA Board of Trustees met on two occasions to make a number of decisions related to the search for a new University president. In keeping with the board’s commitment to inform the University community about major milestones in the presidential search process, we want to share with you the actions the board has taken.

First, after discussions with President Tony Waldrop, the executive committee has agreed to allow President Waldrop to utilize his accrued vacation time for the remainder of his time with USA, effective as of today and until his retirement on July 1. President Waldrop has guided the University of South Alabama through a tremendous period of growth and improvement in academics, healthcare, student life and athletics, and he has the gratitude of the Board for all that he has done to enhance the teaching, research and service missions of the University.

Second, the executive committee has asked Executive Vice President John Smith to serve as acting president, effective immediately. Dr. Smith has been with USA since 2008, serving initially as vice president for student affairs and later as special assistant to the president. The Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Smith as acting president in 2013, a position he held until Dr. Waldrop was named president in 2014. Dr. Smith was named executive vice president in 2014.

Also this week, the executive committee approved the recommendation of the presidential search committee to engage the services of R. William Funk and Associates, a national search firm with an outstanding record of successful presidential placements, to assist with the president search. You will be hearing more about the search process in the near future, and the entire University community will be provided opportunities to give feedback on the finalist candidates.

Finally, the executive committee this week approved the charge to the presidential search committee and the proposal from the search firm, which you can read on the Board of Trustees website. In particular, the role of the search committee includes the responsibility to communicate timely news about the structure, timing, process, and progress of the search to the University community.

The Board of Trustees is confident that the work of the search committee, along with USA’s reputation and standing as a first-class institution of higher education and healthcare, will result in a very strong pool of interested candidates from which the next president of the University will be selected. We will continue to communicate with the University community throughout the search process.

Jimmy Shumock, Chair pro tempore
USA Board of Trustees

March 5, 2021 Press Release

USA Trustees Announce President Search Committee

February 11, 2021, Press Release

USA President Tony Waldrop to Retire; National Search to Commence