George Pernsteiner, chancellor of the Oregon University System, announced today that one of the three finalists for the Portland State University presidency, Dr. Jon Whitmore, has withdrawn from the selection process. Whitmore has been president of Texas Tech University since 2003 and earlier this year announced his resignation from that position, effective in early 2009.

After his two-day visit to PSU and Portland last week, Dr. Whitmore determined that the presidency at PSU is not a good fit for him and his family at this time. "My wife, Jennifer, and I want to thank the Portland State University community for providing such a warm welcome during our visit. Portland State is a fine university with a bright future; however our personal leadership interests don't align appropriately with the institution's most immediate goals and needs. Therefore, we have informed Chancellor Pernsteiner that we will not follow up on his invitation to visit with the Oregon University System Board at the end of this month. Through this process we have become Portland State supporters and will watch from afar as the university move toward greater national recognition."

"We appreciate Dr. Whitmore's thoughtful consideration of the presidency of PSU and respect his decision to withdraw from the selection process at this time," said Pernsteiner.

The State Board of Higher Education intends to select the new PSU president by early May.

Oregon University System (OUS) comprises seven distinguished public universities, reaching more than one million people each year through on-campus classes, statewide public services and lifelong learning. The Oregon State Board of Higher Education, the statutory governing board of OUS, is composed of eleven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon State Senate. For additional information, go to www.ous.edu

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#08-026)

Source:
Di Saunders
Office: 503-725-5714
Cell: 971-219-6869