To Members of the UMW Community,
As you know, President Rick Hurley has announced his intention to retire June 30, 2016. The Board of Visitors has launched a national search for our next president and, as Rector, I have appointed a broad-based Presidential Search Advisory Committee to assist the Board in the search. We have selected the executive search firm, Baker and Associates LLC, to support our work in this important endeavor.
I am writing to inform all members of the UMW community that Martin Baker and Matthew Cullinan, representatives from the search firm, will be at UMW August 25-27. They will hold a series of open forums to gather input from stakeholders. Mr. Baker and Dr. Cullinan will be seeking your thoughts about the characteristics and background needed in our next president, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead for the new president who will be leading UMW forward. The information gathered through this process will inform the leadership profile to be used in cultivating a strong pool of candidates for the position.
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend one or more of the open forums listed below:
Tuesday, August 25, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Information and Technology Convergence Center, Digital Auditorium
Wednesday, August 26, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Information and Technology Convergence Center, Room 210
Wednesday, August 26, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Stafford Campus, University Hall
Thursday, August 27, 12:00 noon-1:30 p.m.
Eagle Village, Room 400
Thursday, August 27, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Information and Technology Convergence Center, Digital Auditorium
Along with our consultants, Martin Baker and Matthew Cullinan, members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee will be in attendance at each of these forums. We encourage you to participate in the conversation and to voice your opinions.
In addition to the open forums, Mr. Baker and Dr. Cullinan will be meeting with a number of key stakeholder groups and individuals during their three-day visit to UMW. They will be meeting with the University Faculty Council, the Alumni Board of Directors (and also holding an alumni open forum), Fredericksburg area community leaders, the Staff Advisory Council, student leaders (and also attending Club Carnival to seek student input), and members of the President’s Cabinet. Additionally, the consultants met with the UMW Foundation Board and the Board of Visitors at their recent summer planning meeting.
Our goal is to engage the entire UMW community at the early stages of the search process, providing multiple opportunities to gather stakeholder input. If you are unable to attend any of the activities scheduled in late August or wish to provide other feedback, please utilize the online Stakeholder Submission Form, which is available on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee website.
Thank you for your interest and your input.