John Issacson, the chair of the national executive recruiting firm running MSU’s search for a new president, released a statement Monday pushing back on speculation that the recent firing of former football coach Mel Tucker amid sexual harassment allegations has affected the search.

The statement says that “​​while recent revelations are a source of regret at MSU, they do not obscure the underlying strengths of the university and the search has revealed that impressive members of the American academy understand MSU’s importance to Michigan and the nation.”

This comes after a recent Lansing State Journal report in which a preeminent expert in university presidential searches said Tucker’s firing and the looming legal battle related to it could make the MSU presidency unappealing to potential candidates.

MSU Trustee Dennis Denno, who’s chairing the search committee, released a similar statement Sunday, saying that “our search has not been damaged by any recent issues.”

Denno has been in hot water since he told The State News last month that the committee is considering non-academic candidates for the post.

The faculty senate, union of non-tenure track faculty, undergraduate student government, and every MSU dean and vice-provost released letters or passed formal resolutions pushing back on that idea, arguing that the next president must be an academic. The current interim-president also rebuked Denno's suggestion in a recent interview with The State News.

Denno has yet to respond to that criticism. But, Issacson’s statement seems to undercut his assertion, describing the candidates being considered as “highly qualified, academic candidates, with impressive leadership careers in high office, in the academy.”

Issacson’s full statement is as follows: 

“There has been some speculation that the search for Michigan State’s presidency might be diverted by recent and past controversies at the University.  

The University has been excellently served by a strong, large, twenty-nine person, highly diverse Presidential Search Committee. Their invitation to apply made the case that MSU is an AAU, Big Ten, nationally impressive research university, with one of the strongest records in the nation for including, not excluding students, graduating them and launching them successfully in life.

Potential candidates have understood the case and have responded.  The Committee has a strong slate, of highly qualified, academic candidates, with impressive leadership careers in high office, in the academy.

While recent revelations are a source of regret at MSU, they do not obscure the underlying strengths of the University and the search has revealed that impressive members of the American academy understand MSU’s importance to Michigan and the nation.

The search is on schedule and on track and will conclude successfully with a hire, highly suited to MSU.”