Presidential Search Updates

Dear Members of the University Community,

I am writing to provide an update on the presidential search. I have received a very positive update from WittKieffer, the executive search firm supporting us throughout this process, reporting that they have engaged with a number of high-quality candidates.

The individuals our consultants have spoken with have expressed a strong interest in the opportunity to join our community, citing our enrollment growth, financial stability, multiple campus locations, and the University’s mission and commitment to innovation.

We are thankful for those who have nominated qualified individuals for WittKieffer to speak with about the position. You can continue to make nominations by click here to submit an individual’s name.

The search committee is entering a more behind-the-scenes period as we prepare to review candidates. Some of our tasks will include evaluating applications, determining interview questions, and preparing for the assessment of interested candidates.

Finally, I am pleased to share that our provost search is set to begin. A search committee will be named soon. The provost search committee will also be supported by WittKieffer. The expectation continues to be that the individual named president would select the individual who will serve as provost.

Looking ahead, I expect to provide our next update at the beginning of December. As we approach the Thanksgiving season, I would like to, on behalf of the entire presidential search committee, express our gratitude to each of you for your active engagement throughout this process. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Mike Ambrose ’84
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

Dear Members of the University Community,

I am pleased to share several important updates on the presidential search process. WittKieffer, the executive search firm supporting our committee, has completed the Leadership Profile that is being used to recruit candidates and to articulate the opportunity that awaits our next president. This document is based in large part on the feedback we received from more than 170 individuals who attended listening sessions and the more than 300 responses we received via the confidential survey.

In addition, we have launched our presidential search website. I am also delighted to let you know that WittKieffer officially began its recruitment of qualified candidates earlier this week. They have posted advertisements to a variety of venues and are sending out individual notices about this opportunity to more than 5,000 people who are either in a position to apply or who might be able to recommend strong candidates.

I would like to invite you to take the time to consider who you might like to see as our next president. If you are interested in nominating someone for WittKieffer to recruit, you can click here to submit an individual’s name. I encourage you to take the time to do this, as I have been told by our search consultants that the strongest nominations often come from those who are closest to the institution.

While the priority application date is not until December 11, I would encourage you to make your nominations as soon as possible so interested qualified candidates have ample time to submit their materials. Finally, I would also invite you to share the leadership profile and the presidential search website within your professional networks.

I would like to thank the Office of Marketing and Communications for their work with WittKieffer on the Leadership Profile and the Presidential Search website. I am proud that these materials perfectly capture what makes our community so special and our future so bright – and the opportunity to be our next president so intriguing and enticing.

Thank you for your active participation and engagement thus far, and I look forward to keeping you updated on the search process moving forward.

Sincerely,

Mike Ambrose ’84
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

Dear Members of the University Community,

I am pleased to announce that the presidential search is well underway. The Presidential Search Committee most recently met August 22. The Committee received its Charge from the Board, reviewed an overview of the search process and timeline, and engaged in a robust dialogue around our hopes for the qualities and qualifications of our university's next president.

The next critical phase of our work will focus on listening to various constituents of the University. We will be supported by our search partners, Robin Mamlet, Melody Rose, and Sandra Chu from executive search firm WittKieffer. We will be offering multiple options for our constituents to share their thoughts with our consultants and with me through a series of in-person and Zoom listening sessions. The goal for these conversations is to engage in a dialogue about the University of New Haven's strengths, opportunities, culture, and priorities, and to contribute to defining the criteria that will be used in the selection of our next president.

Initial conversations will be held the week of September 18. Meetings will last approximately 50 minutes. If you are unavailable when your group is meeting in person, please feel welcome to attend either the Zoom session for your group or one of the two open sessions (one in-person and one via Zoom).

Faculty Sessions:

• Monday, September 18, 10:00 a.m. in person, Bergami Hall Classroom 151
• Friday, September 22, 1:00 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting via link found in your email or on myCharger

Staff Sessions:

• Monday, September 18, 11 a.m., in person, Bergami Hall Classroom 151
• Friday, September 22, 2:00 p.m., Join Zoom Meeting via link found in your email or on myCharger

Student Sessions:

• Monday, September 18, 12:30 p.m. in person, Bergami Center Science Building Classroom 302
• Friday, September 22, 2:00 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting via link found in your email or on myCharger

Open Sessions:

• Monday, September 18, 3 p.m., in person, German Club Ballroom
• Friday, September 22, 3 p.m., Join Zoom Meeting via link found in your email or on myCharger

Alumni Sessions:

• Tuesday, September 19, 4:00 p.m., Join Zoom Meeting via link found in your alumni email
• Friday, September 22, 4:00 p.m., Join Zoom Meeting via link found in your alumni email

In addition to or instead of attending a forum, members of the University community are also invited to submit your thoughts via the Presidential Search Input Survey that will be collected by our consultants and shared, anonymously, with the members of the search committee. We also encourage all community members to submit nominations, which can be done either through the survey mentioned above or through the confidential WittKieffer presidential search email address at NewHavenPresident@wittkieffer.com.

The listening sessions will be framed by these guiding questions:

• What are the key issues facing the University today and in the future?
• What presidential skills and attributes are needed to address these issues?
• What is it about the University of New Haven that will excite top candidates?

Following these listening sessions, the Search Committee will be building a leadership profile to be used in recruiting our new president. An initial timeline for the search can be found on this Presidential Search Website.

Thank you in advance for sharing your valuable perspective on the University and on this search. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Mike Ambrose ’84
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

Dear Members of the University Community,

I am writing to share that the Presidential Search Committee has selected WittKieffer, a leading global executive search firm, to serve as a consultant for our presidential search.

Over the last decade, WittKieffer has conducted more than 130 presidential searches for colleges and universities. The average tenure of the chief executives the firm placed is nine years, which is well above the national average. We look forward to the guidance and assistance they will provide.

The next step in the process is that WittKieffer will work with the Presidential Search Committee to conduct key stakeholder group input meetings (also called listening sessions). There will continue to be opportunities throughout this search for students, faculty, and staff to get involved. We look forward to your active engagement in this important process.

Sincerely,

Mike Ambrose ’84
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

With the Presidential search now underway, the Board of Governors would like to provide an update on the search for a permanent Provost.

As a follow up to an earlier campus-wide message, the University will conduct a national search for a permanent Provost. The timing of the Provost search will be aligned with the progress of the Presidential search to enable the selected Presidential candidate to choose the permanent Provost. Further updates on the exact timing of the start of the Provost search will be provided as the Presidential search continues.

The Board of Governors recognizes the impact of a leadership transition. We look forward to your active involvement in these two important searches, and we will continue to provide updates as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Mike Ambrose ’84
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

Following a distinguished 19-year tenure as the University of New Haven’s sixth president and its first chancellor, leading the University through the most prosperous period in its rich history, Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D., will transition to the role of president emeritus effective July 1, 2023.

The University’s Board of Governors is leading a comprehensive national search to identify the next president. This effort is being led by a search committee of Board members, students, faculty, alumni, and administration that will be supported by an executive search firm.

Below is a general overview of the timeline of events that we will update as necessary throughout this process:

• Summer 2023 – The consulting executive search firm supporting the Search Committee will be named. Begin meeting with key stakeholder groups to gather input on presidential search criteria.
• Late Summer/Fall 2023 – Complete key stakeholder group input meetings. An official position description will be posted.
• Fall 2023 – Search committee begins to review applicants.
• Winter 2023 – Interview candidates and finalists.
• Late Winter, Early Spring 2024 – Candidate selected.
• July 1, 2024 – Chosen individual would officially start as University President.

This is an exciting time for the University as we look to advance the incredible momentum established by Dr. Kaplan during his distinguished nearly 20-year tenure. Regular updates will be provided via this webpage. Opportunities for University community members to get involved will be announced throughout this process.

As a proud graduate of the University, I am excited to take a leadership role in this important initiative and to work with the Charger community to identify the next president of the University. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Mike Ambrose ’84
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Chair, Presidential Search Committee