Looking for a Leader

The search for a new Swarthmore president is in full swing. A search committee led by Salem Shuchman ’84, vice chairman of the Board of Managers, began meeting this fall.

“I’ve been so impressed with the thoughtful input and dialogue the search has generated among various constituents on and off campus,” Shuchman says. “It is clear that everyone appreciates how important a decision this is for the College and wants to contribute insights and perspectives to the search process.”

Interest from candidates has been keen, he says, which is not surprising, because “Swarthmore has a unique position within the liberal arts.” Its financial resources “and wonderful community” add to the appeal, Shuchman adds. 

The College has retained the executive search firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, a specialist in higher education executive recruitment that recently conducted successful presidential searches for Carnegie Mellon, the University of Wisconsin, Bates, Denison, and Haverford.

The goal is to have a new president in place to begin the 2015–16 academic year, according to Shuchman. 

Members of the search committee are: 

Rhonda Cohen ’76, member of the Board of Managers; Anthony Foy, associate professor of English literature; Zenobia Hargust, human resources manager; Jason Heo ’15; Harold “Koof” Kalkstein ’78, member of the Board of Managers; Giles “Gil” Kemp ’72 (ex officio), Board of Managers chair; Isabel Knight ’16; David Ko ’92, president of the Alumni Council; Ellen Magenheim, professor of economics; Salem Shuchman ’84 (chair), member of the Board of Managers vice chair; Kathleen Siwicki, professor of biology; and Sujatha Srinivasan ’01, member of the Board of Managers.

The committee welcomes nominations from alumni. Names may be sent to pressearch@swarthmore.edu. 

Click here for more information about the presidential search.