Since the announcement of Provost Ed Macias’ June 2013 retirement four months ago, Chancellor Mark Wrighton has formed an advisory committee to conduct a nationwide search for Macias’ replacement.

The committee, led by Assistant Vice Chancellor Rob Wild, has been working alongside national executive-search firm Isaacson Miller. The team includes carefully selected professors and trustees from around Washington University.

“What has been nice about working with the committee members is that they are very plugged into the missions of each particular school,” Wild said. “They are very knowledgeable about student issues, faculty issues and research.”

Though the University chooses to maintain a closed search process rather than publicly announce prospective finalists, Wild said that interest in the position has been strong.

“We’ve had a terrific response from qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds,” he said. “Given how highly Washington University is regarded in the academic community, it is not surprising the tremendous response we’ve gotten.”

The provost, as chief academic officer of the University, works most closely in overseeing interactions between the deans of six schools: Art and Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Business, Law, Engineering and Social Work.

In addition, the provost plays a key supervising role for interdisciplinary programs that do not report directly to deans. These inter-school programs include the Danforth Center for Religion and Politics, Gephardt Institute for Public Service, McDonnell International Scholars Academy and Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

“The provost will want to be actively involved in both undergraduate and graduate education, thinking about what we are providing now, and how to address and improve the issues we have in the future,” Macias said.

Wild, too, stressed the importance of understanding all the missions and goals of the University’s various schools.

“The new provost will spend a lot of his or her tenure to understand the needs of the different schools through talking to faculty [and] students, and working with the chancellor,” he said.

Fitting into the interdisciplinary nature of the position, one of the largest projects the upcoming provost will be involved in is Leading Together, the $2.2 billion school-wide campaign for the betterment of the University.

Leading Together has been in development since 2006, when deans began the planning process of the major capital campaign. With more than $1 billion already raised, Leading Together takes into account the future developmental interests of the University’s various schools. Such interests, unique to each discipline, include scholarship opportunities, student programs, new campus construction and public health projects on both an international and local level.

“It’s a great position to be in because [the new provost] is coming into a place that has thought a lot about what it wants to be in the last six years,” Wild said. “Leading Together is not just about raising $2.2 billion. It’s about very specific plans.”

Having included students, faculty and alumni participation during planning, campaign chair trustee Andrew Taylor said during the project announcement, “This campaign will require a united effort by every member of the University family. Together, we will help shape the 21st century and beyond.”

Macias emphasized the significance of his successor taking over at this particular moment in the University’s history.

“This is an exciting time—we’ve got great momentum at the University, and there are lot of great things happening with undergraduates and on the research level,” he said. “This is a wonderful time for someone to come along and keep things moving.”

Having held the position for 25 years, Macias is one of the longest-serving provosts among the University’s peer institutions and leaves behind an impressive legacy, Wild said.

“[The next provost] has some big shoes to fill. [Macias] has been directly responsible, in a lot of ways, for the rise and quality of interest in Washington University over the last 25 years,” Wild said.

Likewise, students acknowledge the importance of the position’s transition.

“It is sad that a key member of the community is leaving after so long. I am sure Provost Macias is valued and will be missed once he retires,” freshman Kerim Papaker said.

As it nears the final phases of the search, the committee aims to announce the University’s new provost in the next few months.