To the Hamline University Community:
The Ad Hoc Acting/Interim President Search Team has fulfilled the charge given to them and is forwarding two recommended candidates to the Board of Trustees for their consideration. As a reminder of our process:
- We began our work with reviewing the Board charge which was to bring at least two finalists, with the ideal characteristics named as: strong collaboration skills, emotional intelligence, exceptional business and financial acumen, prior work experience with organizations in financial distress, experience in leading organizational change, demonstrated fundraising success, broad experience including organizations in higher education or other sectors, and an interest or track record of forming and maintaining a strong relationship with diverse stakeholders including academic leaders, staff and students. An existing or former relationship with Hamline as a plus.
- The search team conducted listening sessions with representatives of faculty, staff, students, the President’s leadership team and alumni.
- The search team then created a position profile and asked for nominations and applications. Thanks to the help of the Hamline community, we had a strong pool of nominations and applications. Over half of those had some connection to Hamline. They were an intersection of folks from academia and other fields.
- We reviewed the letter of interests and resumes and made our selections for an initial Zoom interview.
- From that group, we narrowed it to four finalists. Each of those candidates met with a stakeholder group — again made up of a cross-section of faculty, staff, students and alumni — and they met with the President’s leadership team, as well as had another interview with the search team. The stakeholder group and leadership team gave feedback to the search team on their experience and assessment of each of the candidates.
- The search team has narrowed down the recommendations to our two finalists. They both bring strong experience in their respective fields, have a deep commitment to help Hamline in this moment and clearly understand the role and task of an interim leader.
Please know that every member of our search team participated fully and held the best interests of the Hamline community in their discernment. We committed to engaging in rigorous conversation and open debate within the team to reach the best decision possible and then to speak with one voice once we made our recommendation. So, with that, we have forwarded our two candidates to the Board of Trustees for their consideration.
It has been a privilege to serve Hamline in this work. Thank you for your support and for being willing to come alongside us in this process whether as a host to our finalist candidates, participating in a stakeholder group or offering nominations for our consideration. All of it has been so helpful and appreciated.
Cindy Gregorson, Ad Hoc Search Committee Chair
Members:
Robin Dietz-Mayfield, BOT
Bryce Doty, BOT
Philip Bell, BOT
Brenda Edmondson Heim, BOT
Gwen Lerner, BOT
Patrick Hectorne, BOT
Patrick Haught, Staff
Sam Imbo, Faculty
Samantha Snyder Cakir, Faculty
Abi Grace Mart, Student
