President Andrew A. Sorensen's Dec. 14 announcement to retire as University president on July 31 has set in motion a national search for the institution's 28th president.

The Presidential Candidate Search Committee chaired by Miles Loadholt, vice chair of the University's Board of Trustees, met Jan. 10 for an organizational meeting.

"Our mission as a search committee is to present qualified names to the full Board of Trustees, which, ultimately, will make the final choice," said Loadholt, who also served on the search committee that recommended Sorensen to be the University's 27th president in 2002. "We want to make sure the opportunity to apply is open and known to everyone who is qualified, and we'll use recruiting consultants and advertising in appropriate periodicals to help accomplish that.

"We got about 200 applications last time [in 2002], and I think this search will attract many well-qualified candidates. We might also discover someone out there who doesn't apply but who we might want to recruit. It's essential that we get the right person who can carry on the many projects that have been started such as Innovista."

Joining Loadholt on the search committee are fellow trustees Sam Foster, Toney Lister, John von Lehe Jr., and Mack Whittle. Trustee Wes Jones will serve as an alternate.

Other search committee members include Robert Best, a School of Medicine professor and chair of the Columbia campus Faculty Senate; Student Government President Nick Payne; Bill Bethea, president of the Carolina Alumni Association; alumnus C.B. Smith, representing the University Foundations; Val Lumans, a USC Aiken history professor; and a faculty member representing the Columbia campus Faculty Senate (this individual was selected Jan. 14 after Times went to press).

Sorensen's five-and-a-half-year tenure at Carolina has been highlighted by several University achievements in academics and research as well as significant outreach initiatives. Average freshman SAT scores have advanced from 1122 in 2002 to 1183 in 2007 and external research funding has increased from $109 million to $185 million during the same time period.

In addition, private giving to the University in the most recent fiscal year totaled $66.9 million, a 28 percent increase from the previous year.

Other milestones during Sorensen's presidency include establishment of the Student Success Center and Center for Teaching Excellence, two faculty recruitment plans, the Capstone Scholars Program; and the Gamecock Guarantee to provide need-based scholarships.

Sorensen also helped launch the Innovista research district--now well underway--with future plans for a large public/private partnership in developing hundreds of acres on Columbia's Congaree River front.

Also begun during his tenure are the Magellan Scholars Program, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and several Centers of Economic Excellence funded with Education Lottery support. During this time, the Carnegie Foundation has designated Carolina among the highest tier of research universities in the nation.

Sorensen, who was named 2005 Ambassador of the Year by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, has also presided over a number of building projects--University Inn, Colloquium restaurant, demolition of the Towers and beginning construction on the Honors College residence hall, and completion of the Public Health Research Center.

His key personnel appointments since 2002 include Hildy Teegen, dean of the Moore School of Business; Don DiPette, dean of the School of Medicine; Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Peggy Hewlett, dean of the College of Nursing; Walter F. "Jack" Pratt, dean of the School of Law; Tayloe Harding, dean of the School of Music; Mark Becker, provost; Michael Amiridis, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing; John Parks, executive director of Innovista; and Eric Hyman, director of athletics.

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