East Stroudsburg University Trustees Announce Approval of Slate of Presidential Candidates

ESU Presidential Search_Timothy M. Downs, Ph.D. & Kenneth Long, MBA

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on September 29, 2022, No Comments

The East Stroudsburg University Council of Trustees met on Thursday, September 29 in a public meeting and announced the names of two highly qualified candidates seeking to become the next president of the university.

The slate of recommended unranked candidates was sent to Dr. Daniel Greenstein, Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), for further review. The PASSHE Board of Governors will select one of the candidates to be named the next president of East Stroudsburg University. The two candidates are:

  • Timothy M. Downs, Ph.D. 
  • Kenneth Long, M.B.A. 

There were initially 84 applicants for the position. The continuing candidates announced during the meeting (above) were selected from among three finalists for the position who visited the East Stroudsburg University campus following a national search. They each met with the presidential search committee and various campus constituencies, including president’s council, faculty, staff, students, coaches, alumni, community leaders, and the ESU Council of Trustees.

Campus community forums and other constituency meetings provided the opportunity to question the candidates. Constituent feedback was requested and made possible through evaluation forms.

“I want to thank the members of the presidential search committee for their continued work through this long process,” said Trustee Chair Patrick Ross ’67. “Their dedication ensured that the search for a new president achieved the highest level of professionalism and attracted the best possible candidates.”

Ross also indicated that the search committee accomplished its objective of finding the presidential candidates whose leadership experience and skills best fit East Stroudsburg University.

“Constituent feedback and comments were also given significant and serious consideration throughout the extensive national search process,” said Search Committee Chair and ESU Trustee, Tina L. Nixon ’89. “The committee is confident that the next president of ESU will continue to move the university forward in its ongoing commitment to fulfilling its mission.”

The next president will succeed Marcia Welsh, Ph.D. who retired July 2020. Kenneth Long, M.B.A. has served as interim president since that time.

Membership of the Presidential Search Committee, as outlined by policy established by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors, includes: trustees; a university executive; faculty members; non-instructional employees; a student; an alumna/us; and one current or former president or chancellor from a comparable university as a non-voting member. Per the policy, alternates were selected for some roles to ensure consistency should some committee members not be able to fulfill their roles.

Members of the Committee that were named by the East Stroudsburg University Council of Trustees and approved by Chancellor Daniel Greenstein included:

  • Tina L. Nixon ’89, Committee Chair, ESU Council of Trustees
  • Tom Grayuski ’84, ESU Council of Trustees
  • Paul Shemansky ’96 M’01 M’04, ESU Council of Trustees
  • Dr. Paul Bartoli, Professor of Psychology1
  • Ellijah Brown, Student
  • Donna Bulzoni, Chief Financial Officer
  • George Butts ’06, Building Maintenance Foreman1
  • Dr. Li-Ming ‘Stanley’ Chiang, Professor of Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management1
  • Dr. Donald Cummings M’85, Professor of Exercise Science
  • Dr. Shala Davis, Professor of Exercise Science
  • Dr. Christopher Fiorentino, President, West Chester University2 
  • Danica Boyd Hartenfels ’97, Alumni1
  • Andy Lehman, Legal Counsel Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education2
  • Thomas S. Muller, Board of Governors
  • Dr. Shawn Munford M’04, Professor of Exercise Science
  • Elizabeth O’Brien ’01, Alumni
  • Leslie Raser ’04, Students Accounts Technician and AFSCME President
  • Robert Willever ’75, ESU Foundation Board
  • Jeff Wilson ’86 M’92, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
  • Dr. Sylvester E. Williams, IV, Dean ESU College of Business Management
  • Yasmeen Zaczkiewicz, Student1
  • Miguel Barbosa, ESU Chief of Staff2

1Alternate/Non-voting Member

2Liaison/Non-voting Member

The Presidential Search Committee was assisted during the process by the national search firm RPA, Inc. Trustee Nixon said the firm had a depth of experience in higher education searches at the senior level and provided assistance to the Committee. For more information, please visit www.esu.edu/president/presidential_search.