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University of Washington regents identify preferred presidential candidate and delegate contract negotiations to chair
Summary
The Board of Regents selected a preferred finalist for university president in open session, approving a motion to designate candidate 2 subject to background checks and a contract within the posted salary range of $825,000 to $1.1 million; the chair was authorized to negotiate the contract.
The University of Washington Board of Regents voted to identify a preferred finalist for university president and authorized the board chair to negotiate a contract within the previously posted salary range.
Blaine Tamaki, chair of the Board of Regents, opened the publicly noticed special meeting and reviewed the search process, including work by the presidential search advisory committee (PSAC) and search firm SP&A. Regents discussed finalists but preserved candidate confidentiality by referring to them as “candidate 1” and “candidate 2.” Tamaki said the board “have not taken any votes or straw polls” in executive session and reminded the public that final preferences must be declared in open session.
Regents spoke in open session about the finalists’ experience and fit for the university. Several regents expressed that both finalists were “highly qualified,” and multiple speakers said they favored candidate 2 for fit with the institution’s current needs. Regent Tietj moved that the board “select candidate 2 as the next president of the University of Washington,” subject to further reference and background checks and to contract negotiations between the chair and the candidate within the posted salary range of $825,000 to $1.1 million. The motion was seconded and carried; the board recorded six votes in favor and one opposed.
Chair Tamaki said he would negotiate with the preferred candidate and noted state law constrains certain regents from participating in executive‑session personnel deliberations; he also reaffirmed the board’s dual obligations to transparency and candidate confidentiality. The board said it intends to announce the identity of the next president “at the earliest possible opportunity” once negotiations and checks are complete.
The motion constitutes the board’s formal selection of a preferred candidate; the transcript shows the action is subject to additional background checks and final contract agreement. No candidate name was disclosed during the open session to preserve confidentiality per the board’s stated process.
