Presidential Search Committee Progress Reports

Search Progress Report #1

March 18, 2004

To: The Baruch College Community

From: Trustee Valerie Lancaster Beal, Chair, Baruch Presidential Search Committee


A nationwide search for the next president of Baruch College is now underway. Advertisements for the Baruch presidency have appeared in The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Wall Street Journal, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Affirmative Action Register, and El Diario; other publications include Black Issues in Higher Education (March 25th issue), and Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education (March 22nd issue).

In early March, more than 1,000 higher education leaders nationwide received a letter from the Chancellor soliciting nominations and applications for the presidency. The Committee has retained an executive search firm, Korn/Ferry International, which has a long track record of successful searches for CEOs of higher education institutions as well as for other executives.

There are usually a number of good candidates who do not respond to advertisements, sometimes because they are not actively seeking a new job, sometimes because they are concerned about confidentiality. It will be Korn/Ferry’s job to recruit these persons.

The search consultant working with the Committee is Ms. Nancy Cook, who is well aware of the current and potential leaders of the higher education community. She and her associates have become familiar with the campus and its aspirations through their site visit to Baruch and the informational materials provided to them.

These multiple activities will generate numerous queries, nominations and letters of interest. While the Committee will continue to consider applications throughout the search process, we have encouraged candidates to let us know of their interest by April 1st. The Committee will hold its first candidate screening meeting on April 14th.

The Search Committee is committed to conducting the broadest possible national search for a candidate of exceptional quality. We would like to invite anyone in the Baruch College community to submit the names of any individuals they feel should be encouraged to become a candidate. Those communications should be sent directly to Ms. Nancy Cook, Managing Director, Korn/Ferry International, 11 Penn Center, Suite 2626, 1835 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103; Fax: 215-568-9911; Email: Baruchcollege@kornferry.com.

The entire Baruch College community will receive regular progress reports on the search through its completion. The Committee has pledged total confidentiality, consonant with the paramount need to protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved.

On behalf of the Search Committee, I want to thank those of you who already have contributed to the search process with your time and your advice. When the process is further along, and finalists are asked to visit the campus, the Committee intends to make sure that there is broad involvement by the college community.

The members of the Search Committee were appointed in accordance with the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees. The members are:

Valerie Lancaster Beal, Chair, Member of the Trustees
Wellington Z. Chen, Member of the Trustees
Rita DiMartino, Member of the Trustees
Joseph J. Lhota, Member of the Trustees
Kathleen M. Pesile, Member of the Trustees
Nilda Soto Ruiz, Member of the Trustees
President James. L. Muyskens, Queens College
Professor Neil G. Bennett, Baruch School of Public Affairs
Professor Terrence F. Martell, Department of Economics and Finance, and Director, Weissman Center for International Business, Zicklin School of Business
Professor Cynthia Hyla Whittaker, Chair, Department of History
Mr. Lawrence Zicklin, Alumni Representative
Mr. Damond Fauconier, President, Graduate Student Assembly
Mr. Adrian Lovell, President, Undergraduate Student Government

ex officio member (voting)

Benno C. Schmidt, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees