Search Consultant and Web Site for Comments
February 6, 2009
To the Williams Community,
Two important items comprise this update: selection of a search consultant and the establishment of a Web site for community input to the search process.
I am pleased to announce that the Presidential Search Committee has selected Isaacson, Miller to provide search consulting services to the committee and the College. Isaacson, Miller is recognized as a leading national firm in providing search services in the higher education and non-profit worlds. The engagement will be led by John Isaacson, the firm’s founder. John has a degree from Dartmouth (’68), was a Rhodes Scholar, and attended Harvard Law School before starting a career in public service followed by the founding of his search firm in 1982. Among his many assignments, last year he concluded a successful search for the Secretary (CEO) of the Smithsonian Institution and is currently the lead partner on the Dartmouth College presidential search. The committee was impressed by John’s intellect, network, understanding of Williams and its culture, and very approachable style. He listens well. His colleague Margaret Gilmore (Williams ’05) will serve as an associate on the Williams search.
Secondly, the committee is eager to learn your views about the future of the College and the type of leader who can best carry Williams forward. Since our face-to-face meetings with various groups cannot include everyone associated with the College, we have set up a Presidential Search Input Web site where you can bring your views to the committee’s attention. This broad input from faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and friends of the College will help the committee develop a document that describes Williams (its governance, history, and present circumstances) and the attributes we seek in our next President.
We welcome your thoughts on the following questions:
- What significant short- and long-term issues should the next Williams presidency address?
- What qualities of leadership, including professional and personal attributes, will the next President need to be successful?
- Are there other considerations for the search, including suggestions of highly qualified candidates, that you would like to share?
Please provide your input through the Williams Web site listed above or via mail to:
Presidential Search
Williams College
P.O. Box 422
Williamstown, MA 01267
All responses will be treated confidentially, though we ask for your name and contact information in case we have reason to follow up on your response. Please make sure that your response reaches us by March 1.
Thank you for putting your time and attention to this important process. We also thank the many of you who, since Morty’s announcement in December, have communicated your great affection and respect for him and his presidency and offered suggestions for the search. We will continue to keep you up to date on the process and look forward to receiving additional guidance.
Regards,
Greg Avis ’80
Chair, 2009 Presidential Search Committee
topPresidential Search | Williams College | P.O. Box 422 | Williamstown, MA 01267
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