THE REPORTER:
Search Is On For New President
With John S. Toll in his final year of active presidency, the
Presidential Screening Committee began its initial review of
candidates in late October and will finalize its selection of
Toll's successor in the coming weeks. Thomas H. Maddux, the
College trustee who is chairing the 12-member Screening Committee,
says he expects to present their final candidate to the Board
by mid-February.
The Committee has enlisted the aid of a consulting firm to manage
the search and selection process and to help the College secure
the best possible president. Ted Lewis of the Academic Search
Consultation Service (ASCS) visited campus this fall, conducting
an intensive series of interviews with representatives of all
College constituencies before preparing an assessment of the
key issues the next president of Washington College will be
expected to address, a concise description of the qualities
and characteristics such an individual would require in order
to succeed in the position, and recommended procedures, guidelines
and schedule for the Committee's work.
Lewis, a senior consultant at ASCS, was formerly president of
St. Mary's College in Maryland. He led the development of that
college from the early 1980s when it was a typical state institution
to the mid-1990s, by which time it was recognized as one of
the finest liberal arts colleges in the country.
President Toll has agreed to serve as a resource to the Presidential
Screening Committee and to the search consultant.
The Committee members are Liz Likens '96, Jay Marchant '63,
Kevin O'Keefe '74, Ralph Snyderman '61, Linda Spire, Peter Van
Dyke and John Whitmore (representing the Board of Visitors and
Governors); Clayton Black, associate professor and chair of
history, and Lauren Littlefield '91, assistant professor of
psychology, (representing the faculty); Joachim Scholz, Provost
and Dean of the College representing the College staff; and
Valarie Sheppard '96, president of the Alumni Council.
"In assembling the Committee, we have sought to achieve a balance
in experience and expertise," noted Maddux.
At its October 6 meeting, the Committee discussed and, with
revisions, ultimately approved Ted Lewis' pre-search report.
Laying out the strengths of the College, the likely priorities
of the next president, and the desired characteristics in our
next president, the report is available at www.washcoll.edu/wc/news/search/.
By early November, the Committee had received 117 applications,
including those of at least 17 current or past college presidents,
and those of several provosts and other senior college executives.
The candidate pool also contains individuals from nontraditional
backgrounds.
Lewis and Scholz have the responsibility of prescreening all
the applicants, and have identified nearly 30 candidates for
consideration in the first round of screening before the full
Committee.
By early December, the Committee expects to have developed a
pool of 12 semifinalist candidates to be invited for interviews,
and then identify three or four candidates to invite for two-day
campus visits in late January or early February.
The Committee will make its recommendation for the next President
of Washington College from this group of finalists.
"The Committee is maintaining a very ambitious schedule,"
notes Joseph L. Holt '83, executive vice president of the College,
"and is taking a thorough and careful approach to narrowing
the field of candidates. They understand their decision is of
utmost importance to the future of Washington College."
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