Presidential Search Committee Meeting September 1, 2022

Present from the Committee

Mr. William R. Ermatinger
Robert R. Hatten, Esq., Chair and Rector
Ms. Maria Herbert
Dr. Rachel Holland
Mr. C. Bradford Hunter
Mr. John R. Lawson, II
Mr. Michael Martin
Ms. Terri M. McKnight, CPA
Mr. N. Scott Millar
Ms. Christy T. Morton
Mr. Hayden Olsen
Dr. Tatiana Rizova
Ms. Jamilia Shipman
Lindsey Carney Smith, Esq.
Ms. Judy Ford Wason
(joined the meeting at 10:18 a.m.)

Present from the University

Mrs. Sherry Crotts, Executive Administrative Assistant (Open Session only)
Mrs. Jennifer Latour, Vice President for Finance and Planning and CFO

Others in Attendance

Mr. Martin Baker, Managing Partner, Buffkin/Baker

At 10:00 a.m. Chair Hatten called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone present. Chair Hatten said that since the committee last met, two committee members had resigned and a new member Mr. John Lawson, who is also a Board of Visitors member, joined the Committee. Mr. Lawson and all of the committee members introduced themselves and described their affiliation to the University.

Chair Hatten called for a motion to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2022 meeting. Mr. Martin provided the motion, which was seconded by Mr. Millar and the minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Committee.

Closed Session

At 10:07 a.m. Chair Hatten called for a motion that the meeting be convened in closed session, as permitted by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) for the purpose of discussion and consideration of prospective candidates for employment. Mr. Hunter seconded the motion and the motion was passed by unanimous vote of the Committee.

Only members of the Presidential Search Committee, Mr. Baker and Ms. Latour remained in the room during Closed Session.

Return to Open Session

At 1:30 p.m. Chair Hatten called for a motion to enter open session. Ms. Morton seconded the motion and the motion passed by unanimous vote of the Committee.

The Committee returned to open session and Chair Hatten read the certification language: The Presidential Search Committee of Christopher Newport University certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under this chapter were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed session was convened were heard, discussed or considered by the Committee. Please poll the Committee.

Ms. Latour asked the Committee Members to certify that only public matters were discussed that were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was called and Mr. Ermatinger, Chair Hatten, Ms. Herbert, Dr. Holland, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Lawson, Mr. Martin, Ms. McKnight, Mr. Millar, Ms. Morton, Mr. Olsen, Dr. Rizova, Ms. Shipman, Ms. Smith and Ms. Wason certified to the above through roll call.

Closing Items

Chair Hatten explained the 15-day notice requirement in the Code of Virginia to host a public meeting to notice interview dates; and to provide a motion to hold interviews. As such, Chair Hatten recommended an Announcement Committee consisting of Ms. Holland, Ms. Wason and himself.

Ms. Holland called for the motion to appoint the Announcement Committee which was seconded by Ms. McKnight and passed by unanimous vote of the Committee.

Chair Hatten asked if there was any other business and the question was raised on whether applications will still be accepted and Mr. Baker noted that the position will be open until filled and applications will continue to be accepted.

Chair Hatten thanked the Committee for their time and commented that the Committee has come with the spirit necessary to get the job done and not lose momentum and strength of this University. Ms. Herbert commented on a job well done and Ms. Rizova expressed how impressed she is with the quality of the applicants.

There being no further business, Chair Hatten made a motion to adjourn the meeting and by unanimous vote the meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.