The two top contenders for the job of Portland State University president visited campus this month and met with faculty, staff and students to make the case that trustees should pick her.
University trustees are expected to choose either Kathy Johnson, vice chancellor at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, or Ann Cudd, provost at the University of Pittsburgh, to lead Portland State, which serves around 22,000 students. The next president will replace Stephen Percy who led Portland State through the pandemic and plans to return to the faculty after his contract ends in June, then retire.
Both women vying for the top job are chief academic officers at urban schools larger than Portland State. Johnson has been on the faculty at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis for 29 years, climbing through the ranks to her current position as vice chancellor in 2015. Cudd served as dean of undergraduates at the University of Kansas and as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Boston University before becoming provost and senior vice chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Johnson visited campus on Tuesday, following Cudd’s visit on Feb. 9. An unnamed third finalist pulled out of consideration before a scheduled visit to campus earlier this month.
The new president will inherit COVID-driven enrollment woes at the university, which in recent years has relied heavily on transfer students from nearby community colleges. That population has dwindled amid the pandemic and the booming employment market. At a budget presentation last month, school leaders said enrollment declines are forecasted to continue and they may need to shave $60 million and more than 300 employee positions from the budget by fiscal year 2026-27.
“PSU’s next president will take the helm of Oregon’s only urban research university at a critical time in our history and will be tasked with leading PSU into a future of excellence and success for students, faculty and staff,” university board member Benjamin Berry wrote in a January letter announcing the finalist’s visits.
In her application for the role, Johnson touted her experience with budgeting and fundraising and her passion for working with students and faculty.
As an administrator in Indianapolis, Johnson created the school’s Office of Faculty Diversity and Inclusion and launched the Institute for Engaged Learning that aims to connect undergraduates with research, internships and project-based learning on and off campus. In the past six years, Johnson said the school has seen a 77% increase in the 4-year graduation rate and an increase in state appropriations tied to degree completion.
Johnson volunteers to teach every few semesters “because being with students energizes me and provides a powerful reminder of why our university is here,” she wrote.
“I strive to lead by example and with a deep sense of integrity and transparency, though I have found that having a good sense of humor is also an asset!” Johnson’s cover letter says.
Cudd promoted her history of building bridges between universities and the cities they serve. At Boston University, she started the Metrobridge program that puts students and faculty on real-world projects to help address urban issues and the University of Pittsburgh earned a higher education distinction for community engagement during her tenure. She’s also done extensive fundraising and recently closed a $35 million endowment gift, she said.
As provost, Cudd is in charge of academics for more than 34,000 students at University of Pittsburgh. She says applications are up more than 60% since she started, that campus is more diverse than ever and enrollment is meeting the school’s annual targets for growth.
Cudd also touted her work advancing equity. Her application says she’s added a new vice provost for faculty diversity and after the murder of George Floyd commissioned an optional online class on anti-Black racism that over 98% of freshmen chose to complete this year. Cudd also launched a financial aid program that matches federal Pell grant dollars for low income students, which she said has boosted access for low-income and minority students and helped close gaps in student retention.
“We must develop and adopt innovative new approaches to teaching and learning to engage with and support ever more diverse learners, across our entire lifespan,” Cudd wrote in her cover letter for the job.
Campus community members have until Friday to submit feedback surveys on the candidates. Board members interviewed the candidates in executive session after their campus visits. University spokesperson Katy Swordfisk said the board has a meeting scheduled next Tuesday for further deliberation.
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Sami Edge covers higher education for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.