Provost and Senior Vice President Patrick Phillips announced that he is conducting two national searches for key academic leadership positions at the University of Oregon.

Phillips said he will search for a dean of the College of Design and for a vice provost and university librarian for UO Libraries.

“While these searches officially launch this term, the next few months will be dedicated to recruiting and building the candidate pools,” Phillips said in a message sent to College of Design and UO Libraries faculty members and staff. “Interviews and campus visits will likely not take place until late winter or early spring term. My hope is to have these new leaders on campus by July 1, 2020.”

WittKieffer, an executive search firm with previous experience working with the UO, has been hired to help with the searches. The university has established search committees for each position, and both will have faculty members, staff and students on them.

Sabrina Madison-Cannon, the Phyllis and Andrew Berwick Dean of the School of Music and Dance, will chair the College of Design search committee, while Clark Honors College Dean Gabe Paquette will chair the UO Libraries search committee.

Currently, the College of Design is being led by interim Dean Laura Vandenburgh. Mark Watson is serving as interim dean of UO Libraries.

Phillips’ message to the college and UO Libraries can be found on the provost’s website.