An Open Letter to the Truman State University Community on Transparency in the Presidential Search
September 21, 2026
After more than a decade of leadership, President Sue Thomas has announced that she will retire at the end of the 2026–2027 academic year, leaving Truman State University to undertake one of the most consequential decisions in its history: the selection of its next president. Her decision to provide a full year’s notice gives Truman an important opportunity to conduct a search for her successor in accordance with the principles of transparency, shared governance, and meaningful participation by the Truman community.
In its Statement on Presidential Searches, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) warns against the growing practice of conducting presidential searches behind closed doors, with no opportunity for the university community to meet the finalists. The AAUP emphasizes that open search processes benefit everyone. During campus visits, candidates have the opportunity to gain the confidence of the faculty and to get to know the institution better. Feedback from the university community helps the selection committee and governing board make a more informed decision. In short: public campus visits provide an opportunity for both the university community and the candidates to determine whether they are suited to one another.
Truman has a unique culture, location, and educational mission, and its president is tasked with advocating for the university in the state legislature. Candidates therefore deserve the chance to get acquainted with what makes Truman “Distinct by Design”: our curious students, our faculty dedicated to the liberal arts, our rural, small-town Missouri setting, and our supportive university community.
The AAUP recognizes that an initial confidential screening process can be appropriate. However, once finalists have been identified, the names of finalists should be made public. Faculty, staff, students, and other members of the university community should have opportunities to meet the finalists, ask them questions, evaluate their qualifications, and provide feedback to the search committee and Board of Governors.
We therefore call on the Board of Governors to: 1) include meaningful faculty representation throughout the search process, 2) publicly identify the finalists, 3) bring all finalists to campus for an open visit, and 4) provide a meaningful mechanism for community feedback. While the Board of Governors has the legal responsibility for selecting the president, it should also recognize and respect the principle of shared governance: the university’s faculty have a legitimate and essential role in determining who is best prepared to lead the institution.
We urge the Board of Governors to seize the opportunity to conduct a search that will benefit the candidates and the university.