The Presidential Search Committee is hard at work as they gather candidates to fill interim, or temporary, president Kathleen Murray’s position. Murray took office in Jan. 2024 and is expected to serve as president for a total of 18 months. Her interim term began after former president Fayneese Miller, who served from 2015 to 2024, announced her retirement in April of 2023.
In an effort to practice inclusive excellence, the Presidential Search Committee held a series of listening sessions over the summer, where students, faculty and staff shared their questions and what qualities they would like to see in a candidate. By Dec. 2024, at least two candidates will be finalized and forwarded to the Board of Trustees.
As the search committee barrels towards December, students and faculty still want their input to be heard. Sitting member of the search committee and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice Sarah Greenman, says that communication between different stakeholders both on and off campus is key to a successful president.
“I think communication, for me, internal and external communication, is really important. Particularly I think internal [communication] amongst the different stakeholders; so internal [communication] to faculty, students and staff.” Greenman said.
For some members of the search committee, tangible skills are more attractive in a candidate. External President of Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress (HUSC) and a sitting member of the search committee Elisa Lopez, says that a president with good management and financial skills, among other things, will take Hamline to the next level.
“In actual, tangible skills, I really, really want someone who is good in management, financials [and] fundraising. We need someone who is a diverse and creative thinker who can think and find new ways to fundraise and to take Hamline to the next level.” Lopez said.
For Internal President of Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress (HUSC) and a sitting member of the search committee Oliver Engstrom, physical presence of the president can either inhibit or promote community communication. Miller was a proponent of this principle early in her career and students could expect to see her at football games or handing out treats at Anderson Center during the holidays. Her presence set a precedent that Engstrom says is an invaluable quality to have in potential candidates.
“We want to see more physical presence of the president…Have the president not be on such a pedestal that student groups don’t feel open to talking to them.” Engstrom said.
Likewise, Lopez says that physical presence on campus and access to leadership is an integral quality that can ultimately align or divide the student body.
“There is such a need for people to have their leaders in the room with them and getting to know them and being a part of where they are, because when people feel disconnected from their leadership, they don’t necessarily feel aligned with them.” Lopez said.
Hamline is not the only university that is looking for a new president. According to academicsearch.org, a platform that shares open executive positions in colleges and universities across the country, there are at least eight other universities, such as Concordia University Texas, that are actively searching for a new president. As such, Greenman says that a potential president must have a strong vision for both the future of higher education and the future of Hamline University.
“Higher education is really hard right now across the country…hear what [candidates] have to say about where they think higher education is going and sort of a vision for Hamline and how Hamline fits into that.” Greenman said.
The Presidential Search Committee will make an appearance on Tues., Sept. 17 during Convo Hour at the HUSC General Assembly meeting to hold an informal and informational listening session. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend before the committee returns to their highly confidential search. The new president is expected to begin their term on July 1, 2025.