Presidential Search
The Search for Washington College's 31st President
Following Interim President Wayne Powell's assessment earlier this spring that Washington College will thrive best under the leadership of a permanent president, the institution is conducting a national search. The 17-member search committee, led by College Trustee William Harvey P’10, is working with executive search firm WittKieffer, of Bethesda, Maryland, to assist with that process.
Presidential Search Update
The Search Committee has had expressions of interest or applications from a very impressive
group of candidates to be Washington College’s next President. With the assistance
of WittKieffer, our search firm, a pool of more than 30 individuals was recommended
to the Search Committee for consideration. In June, the Committee members reviewed
and ranked these individuals, narrowing the pool to 13 candidates to participate in
the first round of interviews. This initial interview pool was an extraordinary group of people—diverse, experienced,
and knowledgeable about higher education. They are also inspired by Washington College’s
potential. Reflecting on the first-round interviews, the Search Committee selected
a smaller group to bring back for a second round of interviews. Based on this second
round of interviews in July, the Committee will then determine who they would like
to invite for open forums and on-campus interviews later in the month. Using feedback
from these forums and interviews, the Committee will then determine which of the finalists they will recommend to the Board of Visitors and Governors for their consideration.
The Presidential Search Prospectus
Washington College seeks a visionary and transformational leader with several qualities and capabilities, including higher education experience, the ability to unite and inspire, operational and financial prowess, exceptional written and oral communication skills, marketing and fundraising experience, a commitment to diversity, equity, & inclusion, and an appreciation for community engagement.
The Job of Washington College's Next President
Washington College invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest in the position of President. The successful candidate will be a strategic visionary who can focus on student-centered academic excellence and co-curricular engagement.
This leader, working with a team of dedicated faculty and staff as well as committed members of the Board of Visitors and Governors, will be an inspiring fundraiser, a committed advocate for social justice and internal and external community engagement, and a champion of transparency, collaboration, and the overall mission of the College.
Your Voice Matters
As we endeavor to identify the ideal candidate who can build upon the College’s legacy while developing innovative solutions to the challenges we face in the higher education marketplace today, we invited each constituency—students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni—to offer their thoughts and perspectives. During the first week of April, the Search Committee sponsored a series of listening forums, using the questions below to ascertain the key qualities of a successful presidential candidate. This information helped the Committee frame the Presidental Search Prospective and the Job Posting, shared above.
- What does Washington College need most in a new leader?
- What is the most important thing you would want the new president to know?
- What is the most important thing you would want the Search Committee to know?
The Search Firm
To suggest potential candidates or forward nominations, or to send inquiries or comments to the entire search team, please email WashCol-President@wittkieffer.com.
Physical mail may be directed to:
WittKieffer Attn: Washington College President Search Lucy Leske/Sheila Murphy/Bree Liddell/Colleen Reich 2015 Spring Road, Suite 510 Oak Brook, IL 60523The following individuals comprise the WittKieffer consulting team focused on the Washington College search:
- Lucy A. Leske • 508-680-1268 • lleske@wittkieffer.com
- Sheila Murphy • 617-823-0447 • smurphy@wittkieffer.com
- Bree Liddell • 314-536-4568 • bliddell@wittkieffer.com
Presidential Search Committee
William J. Harvey P’10, Committee Chair
Richard D. Wood III ’91, Committee Vice Chair
Stephen T. Golding ’72 P’05, BVG Chair (Ex Officio)
Rebecca Corbin Loree ’00
Hugh Sherman
Valarie A. Sheppard ’86
John H. Timken ’03
Beth Warehime ’13
Richard T. Wheeler ’86
Sara Clarke-De Reza, Faculty Council
Elizabeth O'Connor, Tenure and Promotion Committee
Shaun Ramsey, Faculty Council
Braxton Berry ’23, Student Government Association
Prince Kagunyi ’23, Student Government Association
Ben Wang '22
Mike Nichols '22
Robert C. Page ’01, Alumni Board (Ex Officio)
Susannah Chase ’90 P’21, Senior Staff
Benjamin Ford, Staff Council
Victor Sensenig, Senior Staff — staffing Presidential Search Committee