Dear Meredith Alumnae:

On behalf of the Meredith College Board of Trustees, I am writing to update you on the search for Meredith’s eighth president. As you recall from previous communications, Meredith College’s current president, Maureen A. Hartford, announced last spring that she will retire as president in June 2011, after twelve years of service.

Presidential Search Committee Named
This past June, the Meredith College Board of Trustees authorized the creation of a presidential search committee comprised of seven trustees, a representative from the Alumnae Association, two faculty members, one student representative, and one staff member. The search committee will be chaired by Elizabeth Triplett Beam, ’72, immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees. Deborah Jordan Matthews, ’74, president of the Alumnae Association, will represent Meredith alumnae on the committee. For a complete listing of the search committee members, visit www.meredith.edu/presidential-search.

Alumnae Input Needed
The search committee, which began its work this month, has been charged with developing a presidential profile to help guide the search process. Alumnae, students, faculty and staff, and community leaders will be invited to participate in forums, interviews and surveys designed to gather input on the qualities and credentials to be considered by the search committee in the development of the profile.  

Meredith alumnae will have their first opportunity to participate in the process on Wednesday, October 13 during an input session that will be held at 7 p.m. in Jones Chapel.

Search Firm Selected
I am pleased to announce that Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LLC, a leading firm in conducting nationwide executive searches for institutions of higher education, will assist in our presidential search.  Storbeck/Pimentel is a minority and female owned executive search firm specializing in providing executive recruitment services to colleges, universities, independent schools and not-for-profit organizations. The firm has conducted successful presidential searches for numerous colleges and universities, including Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, Wake Forest University and UNC Asheville.

Anne Coyle, a vice president and partner who resides in New Haven, Conn., will lead the Storbeck/Pimentel team. Coyle will be assisted by Shelly Weiss Storbeck, managing partner and co-owner of the firm. More information about the search firm and the credentials of our team can be found on the Presidential Search web site, www.meredith.edu/presidential-search or on the firm’s web site, www.storbeckpimentel.com.

Future Communications
As a Meredith alumna, you have an important voice in the future of the College. Every effort will be made to keep you informed and engaged as the search for Meredith’s next leader moves forward.

You will receive updates, survey invitations and announcements about the process through emails from Elizabeth Beam, ’72, on behalf of the search committee. Informational updates will also be posted to www.meredith.edu/presidential-search.  You may also share your thoughts with the search committee by emailing the search committee chair at presidentialsearch@meredith.edu.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we look forward to working with the presidential search committee, Storbeck/Pimentel and the college community to bring a strong, dynamic and capable individual to lead Meredith for the future.
     
Sincerely,

Sam Ewell,
Chair, Meredith College Board of Trustees