Greetings,

I am pleased to announce that we have selected a nationally renowned higher education search firm to work with us as we look for the best-fit leader for our 18th president of Albion College.

As we have shared with you on several occasions, finding a firm with extensive experience in successfully searching for executive leaders in higher education at the national level was important. We wanted to find a partner to guide us through the process so that, in the end, Albion College had a strong leader for tomorrow, ready to take on all the opportunities our small, private, liberal arts college presents. And we are confident we found the firm for which we were looking — Russell Reynolds Associates.

For more than 50 years, Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) has been committed to its purpose of improving the way the world is led. The firm’s history is one of excellence, partnership and meticulous execution. Today, RRA has 47 offices in major cities globally, advising some of the world’s largest and most complex organizations on their most pressing leadership challenges across industries, functions and geographies.

While the needs of their clients have evolved since they started in 1966, the fundamental challenge they face remains the need for new types of leaders with the skills to shape what’s next, tapping into the opportunities brought by the rapidly changing field of higher education. Across their history, they have remained committed to helping clients stay ahead of the curve by finding and developing future-ready leaders.

The Presidential Search Committee is excited to begin its work with RRA. They will guide us as we create the framework for the process, develop essential documents and a timeline that fits our needs as a campus and community. As I have pledged, we will conduct a transparent search process and share these steps with you via our communication channels and the Presidential Search website.

We remain grateful to Interim President Joe Calvaruso and First Lady Donna Calvaruso for their continued presence on campus and in the community. Joe’s dedication to Albion College and commitment to staying in the interim position until a new president is hired and onboarded is more than we could have ever asked. He has given us the gift of time to find the right next leader for Albion to continue the student-centered work he and Donna have begun. We owe them much.

It is an honor to be entrusted to lead this vital work. I am both humbled and excited about the opportunity to help Albion College find the best leader for its next chapter.

Thank you for your support and participation.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, concerns or observations you might have about this process.

Sincerely,

Brian McPheely, Trustee
Presidential Search Committee Chair