President Carl Strikwerda announced Feb. 12 that he will retire from Elizabethtown College June 30, 2019, after completing two four-year terms.
There is currently a Presidential Search Committee trying to find Etown’s 15th president. Members of the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer Lucy Leske, Concetta Stewart and Christine Pendleton are supporting the search.
Witt/Kieffer have been a leader in higher education executive searches for over 50 years and they have found new presidents for colleges such as Bryn Mawr College, Goucher College and Ithaca College.
Etown is inviting students, parents, faculty, staff members, alumni and friends of the school to share opinions and suggestions about the search as well as tell the committee what qualities they find important in a new president. There will be updates on the search project that will be sent through e-mail and posted on the Etown website.
The search committee is comprised of ten individuals: presidential search committee chair Ed Lovelidge ’82, trustee Rick Baker ’75, professor of biology Dr. Jane Cavender, Chair of the Board of Trustees Robert Dolan, trustee Jim Fritz ’84, trustee David Fuchs, trustee Pete Kershaw ’75, trustee Velma Redmond, Chaplain and Excecutive Director of Purposeful Life Work and Ethical Leadership Rev. Dr. Tracy Wenger Sadd, and associate professor of English and Chair of the English and Communications Departments Dr. Matt Skillen.
There are many aspects of this search that are confidential, though some public resources are available. One of the resources provided on the Etown website is a Leadership Profile that details exactly what the search committee is looking for in a new president. The profile emphasizes how Etown wants a president experienced and effective when it comes to fundraising.
This profile details the educational philosophy of the College, saying that Etown “engages students in a dynamic, integrated learning environment that blends the liberal arts and professional studies,” and continues to talk about how the College is devoted to educating the whole person through the provided classes and programs.
The profile also explains the student profile, including enrollment rates, retention rates, four-year graduation rates, six-year graduation rates, students with financial aid and diversity rates as well as many other statistics.
There is then a more thorough explanation of the role of the President of the College, explaining the Senior Staff and other people with whom the president will be collaborating and/or reporting to while working at Etown.
The review of the presidential applications will begin Sept. 17 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should apply by Sept. 10 for the fullest consideration.
