Timeline

On July 12, 2007, President Peggy R. Williams announced her plan to retire from Ithaca College effective May 31, 2008. 

The Search for Ithaca College's 8th President is Underway

Candidate review will begin on December 15 and continue until the position is filled.  Applications should include a curriculum vitae; a cover letter addressing the issues described in the position profile available in the Materials for Candidates; and the names of five references with contact information.  These should be forwarded to Ithaca College’s search consultants at Ithaca@wittkieffer.com.  Materials that must be mailed may be sent to Jean Dowdall, Ph.D., and Lucy Leske, Witt/Kieffer, 2015 Spring Road, Suite 510, Oak Brook, IL  60523.

Initial Planning Stages

• On September 4, 2007, Chair of the Board C. William Schwab announced to the campus community the plan for selecting the next Ithaca College president.
  
• At the beginning of September, a subcommittee of the board of trustees met with four prospective consultants, and the firm of Witt/Kieffer was chosen to guide the board's work in the presidential search process. Jean Dowdall and Lucy Leske from Witt/Kieffer met with the board in late September to gather information from the board in order to create a position specification document that will be shared by with all individuals interested in the position. 
  
• On October 1, Chair of the Board Bill Schwab announced the members the search committee.
  
• On October 3 and 4, Jean Dowdall and Lucy Leske from Witt/Kieffer, along with members of the board and the search committee, met with the campus community to gather information to be used in creating the position specification document that will be shared by with all individuals interested in the position.
  
• On October 29, Chair of the Board Bill Schwab announced the ad had been placed in the Chronicle of Higher Education as well as other publications targeted at diverse populations.

Finalists Visits to Campus

• On February 26, Chair of the Board Bill Schwab announed the on-campus interview schedule.

• The first two finalists were announced on Thursday, March 13.

Dr. MaryAnn Baenninger, currently president at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, visited the campus and meet with various campus constituencies on March 17-18.

Dr. Iain Crawford, currently vice president for academic affairs and professor of English at the College of Wooster, in Wooster, Ohio, visited the campus for meetings with various campus constituencies on March 19-20.

• The third finalist was announced on Friday, March 21.

Dr. Thomas R. Rochon, currently the executive vice president and chief academic officer of the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota, visited the campus to meet with the various campus constituencies on March 25-26.

The 8th President of Ithaca College is Announced

On Friday, April 11, 2008, Chairman Schwab and Vice Chairman Alleva announced that Dr. Thomas Rochon accepted the offer of the board of trustees to become the 8th president of Ithaca College.  Dr. Rochon will assume the presidency as of July 1, 2008.

Questions?

Nancy Pringle, secretary to the board, will be serving the board as staff support during the search process.  If you have any questions regarding the nominations process or general search questions, please contact Nancy directly at npringle@ithaca.edu or by calling her at 274-3836.