Search stopped in August; will start over because of actions attributed to Governing Board member Kathleen Winn
The search for a new chancellor at Maricopa Community College was allegedly disrupted and stopped in August because of the actions of a single Governing Board member on the search committee, Kathleen Winn. In an article in Inside High Ed, reporter Madeline St. Amour wrote that an investigation found that Winn, who was a member of the search committee for a new chancellor, tainted the process “by violating a confidentiality agreement and attempting to persuade a candidate to not apply for the position.”
Winn is an at-large member of the board and her term expires in 2022. She was previously accused of violating campaign finance law along with Tom Horne, former attorney general for Arizona, during his run in the state’s 2010 election, according to the Phoenix News Times.
A statement published by Inside Higher Ed from Maricopa District Governing Board president Marie Sullivan on behalf of the Board read as follows:
“As the process began, different individuals started relaying uncomfortable and possibly inappropriate conversations with Ms. Winn concerning her preferences for the chancellor position. It is important to note that everyone on the search committee had been advised to only discuss the candidates with a select few individuals who were authorized for those conversations. Ms. Winn also signed a confidentiality agreement which clearly stated the appropriate way to conduct the search for the next chancellor and also clearly stated many actions not to take. Unfortunately, it now appears Ms. Winn violated numerous provisions within her signed confidentiality agreement. Based on the findings of the investigation, I am deeply disappointed. As a governing board, we owe our students, faculty and those who elect us with the highest fidelity of conduct. Unfortunately, it now appears that Ms. Winn did not comport herself accordingly.”
You may read the entire article by Inside Higher Ed reporter Madeline St. Amour by clicking here.