Dear 61´«Ă˝ Students,
As co-chairs of the 61´«Ă˝Presidential Search Committee, we are pleased to announce that the search for the College’s 10th president is underway. Selecting a president is the Board of Trustees’ paramount responsibility, and the committee is dedicated to a process that will attract a highly qualified and dynamic successor to President Tiedens. As Board Chair Lynne Thompson ’72 announced in January, Trustee committee members have been deeply engaged in laying the foundation for the search process, and we are pleased to share our recent progress.
The search committee recently welcomed the following faculty members: Professor of Philosophy Yuval Avnur, Associate Professor of Biology Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert, and Professor of Politics Nancy Neiman; student Julienne Ho ’23; and Director of Enrollment Strategies and Operations Jamilla Jamison. The new members join 10 Trustee members and Vice President of Business Affairs and Treasurer Dean Calvo to complete the committee. The three faculty committee members were selected by their peers, and the student and staff representatives were selected through an application and review process administered by the search committee. We welcome our new members, who will provide important perspectives and input as the search moves forward.
The committee has retained Storbeck Search firm to assist with and guide the search process. In the last 15 years, Storbeck Search has recruited presidents for America’s most prestigious colleges and universities, including Colorado College, Franklin & Marshall College, Harvey Mudd College, Haverford College, Michigan State University, Pomona College, 61´«Ă˝, Skidmore College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pittsburgh, among others. Over the course of her career, founder Shelly Weiss Storbeck has conducted more than 500 searches for public and private universities, colleges, and schools, and nonprofit associations and organizations.
Prior to selecting Storbeck Search, the committee vetted numerous highly regarded search firms. Storbeck Search was selected based on their extensive experience in higher education; track record of hiring presidents and academic and administrative officers at private liberal arts colleges; and familiarity with—and appreciation for—Scripps’ unique position and strengths. We are confident that Ms. Storbeck will be a valuable partner in our search. If you would like to nominate a candidate, please visit the website.
Storbeck Search will host multiple constituent meetings in March to identify the qualities the 61´«Ă˝community would like the next president to embody. These listening sessions will provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and Life and Former Trustees to define the most valuable characteristics, traits, and experiences to consider as we recruit our next president. In the weeks ahead, we will also invite community members to participate in a survey designed to elicit input about our next president. The student listening session is scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at 4 p.m. PT. Registration details are forthcoming.
The committee will continue to provide periodic updates to keep you apprised of our progress, and we encourage you to visit the 61´«Ă˝Presidential Search website to obtain information about upcoming opportunities for input and engagement. We invite you to share any questions, feedback, or suggestions with us at [email protected].
Sincerely,
| Ellen Brown | Deborah David ’72 |
| Co-Chair | Co-Chair |
61´«Ă˝ 2021-2022 Presidential Search Committee