May 29, 2019
Prabu David is the dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences and was a member of the MSU presidential search committee that selected Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. as the university’s next president.
We had a remarkably strong pool of candidates, and it was the experience of a lifetime to meet some of the of the top leaders in higher education and hear their vision for our university. Equally remarkable was the camaraderie among members of the search committee, which was made up of a diverse group of individuals representing various constituencies. In the end, we were able to come away with a candidate who was a consensus pick, which is a miracle. By setting aside our differences for the common good, I believe we demonstrated Spartans Will.
From the input sessions, it was clear to me that we needed an experienced leader who would bring a fresh perspective. We needed both a healer and a visionary. Dr. Stanley checks all these requirements and more. I was particularly impressed by his nuanced understanding of the importance of humanities and social sciences in a land-grant university. I firmly believe he is an authentic leader who has the attributes to heal the past, confront the present and shape the future.
