The University of Oregon presidency is viewed as a great opportunity in the minds of potential candidates across the country, according to a report from Connie Ballmer, chair of the presidential search committee.

During Friday’s session of the winter meeting of the Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon, Ballmer updated the group on the status of the recruitment and appointment of the next president.

“We are very optimistic about the candidate pool,” Ballmer said.

Ballmer noted that if the search committee believes it has a strong set of candidates to recommend, the trustees could be asked to convene as early as April to conduct interviews and make a selection, but she said the search will continue until there is that strong group for consideration.

As the search continues, transition planning is already taking place with a goal of helping the next president be successful, Ballmer reported.

—By Tobin J. Klinger, Public Affairs Communications