Jonathan Lai and Andrew Seidman, Inquirer Staff Writers

The two-month-old joint board of Rowan University and Rutgers-Camden has quickly become a quasi-government entity that hopes to steer development toward Camden.

Forgoing a formal search, the board has hired a $275,000-a-year chief executive to guide expansion of an “eds and meds” corridor in Camden, using eminent domain, if needed. It’s also leasing office space in the city.

Calling new CEO Kris Kolluri, a former political aide and state transportation commissioner, “very qualified,” board member Robert Mortensen added, “the process . . . did not, in my opinion, include the proper preliminary work,” including establishing a job description and conducting a search.

The lease decision also lacked “proper due diligence,” he said last week at a public meeting of another Rutgers board.

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