The University of Massachusetts system is looking for a new president. In the wake of current President Jack Wilson’s March 1 announcement that he would step down effective June 2011, the University announced Thursday that it has formed a Committee to search for the system’s next president.

The University of Massachusetts Presidential Search Committee is tasked with developing a group of candidates and suggesting finalists to the UMass Board of Trustees, which will have the ultimate say in choosing a new president.

University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Chairman Robert J. Manning said he believes the Search Committee is competent and fit for the job.

“This Search Committee is diverse, distinguished and representative of the University and the Commonwealth that it serves,” said Manning, who under University policy is responsible for appointing the search panel, in a Thursday release.

“I am confident that this Committee will be able to assemble a pool of superb candidates and will recommend finalists, any one of whom would be an outstanding new leader for the five-campus University of Massachusetts system,” Manning added.

“I am confident that this Committee will be able to assemble a pool of superb candidates and will recommend finalists, any one of whom would be an outstanding new leader for the five-campus University of Massachusetts system,” he continued.

The Search Committee will be chaired by Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees James J. Karam, who is also president of First Bristol Group and a 1971 UMass Dartmouth graduate. Karam is also chair of the committee on administration and finance.

“I look forward to this search process and to helping to select a new leader for a University that has accomplished much and is poised to take its place alongside the very best public universities in the nation,” Karam said in UMass’ Thursday statement.

Henry Thomas III will serve as vice chair of the Committee. Thomas is president and CEO of the Urban League of Springfield in addition to being a University of Massachusetts Trustee and chair of the committee on academic and student affairs.

Also serving on the Committee will be Professor of Economics and Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees at UMass Lowell Michael Carter, PhD.

He will be joined by Distinguished Professor of Communication and Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees at UMass Mari Castaneda, PhD, as well as Edward W. Collins Jr., a Trustee and an international representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and 1974 UMass Boston alumnus and Chairman of the University of Massachusetts Foundation Investment Committee Edward H. D’Alelio.

The Committee further includes past President of Tufts University, Michigan State University, University of Connecticut and current UMass Trustee John A. DiBiaggio, DDS, Maria D. Furman, a 1976 UMass Dartmouth graduate, UMass trustee and retired managing director and bond portfolio manager of Standish Mellon Asset Management, Robyn Hannigan, PhD, professor and chair of environmental, earth and ocean studies at UMass Boston, Charles J. Hoff, a 1966 UMass Lowell graduate and former UMass Trustee, Phillip W. Johnston, a 1968 UMass graduate and Trustee.

The Committee also has one student member, Laura King, a UMass Dartmouth student.

Other Committee members are Ruben J. King-Shaw Jr., chairman of Mansa Equity Partners, Inc. and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Winston Langley, PhD, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UMass Boston, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and 1984 UMass Lowell alumnus Robert J. Manning, Nobel laureate and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Craig C. Mello, Ph.D, Kathy Miraglia, a 2006 UMass graduate with an Ed.D and professor and chair of art education at UMass Dartmouth, Keri E. Osterhaus-Houle, an M.D. from UMass Worcester and Trustee, S. Paul Reville, secretary of education for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a Trustee, Mark E. Russell, a 1983 UMass Lowell alumnus and a 1985 UMass master’s recipient as well as a vice president of engineering, technology and mission assurance at Raytheon Co., Chairman of the University of Massachusetts Building Authority, former Trustee and president and CEO of Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts, Trustee Stephen P. Tocco and Marcellette G. Williams, PhD, senior vice president for academic affairs, student affairs and international relations for the University of Massachusetts system.

Because President Wilson has more than a year left on his term, the Committee expects to have a replacement selected before his departure next June. Wilson has served as president since 2003.

“We hope and expect to have this process concluded before Jack Wilson’s term ends and therefore envision a seamless transition, one that will allow the University to maintain its positive momentum and to serve its students and the Commonwealth to the utmost,” Manning said.

The Committee anticipates holding its first meeting in the next several weeks.

Sam Butterfield can be reached at [email protected].