The Search for Marietta's 21st President
The Board of Trustees understands that this is a critical time for Marietta College to solidify its place in an evolving higher education landscape and that our next leader will play a critical role in assuring our success. As we look to the future of Marietta College, the Board of Trustees has formed a committee to lead a comprehensive search for the College’s 21st president. The search committee represents diverse perspectives as we seek the next leader for Marietta. We have every confidence that this committee will recommend to the Board candidates who are qualified to embrace both challenges and opportunities for the college. We thank each member of the Committee for their ongoing commitment to Marietta, its students, and our shared future.
We are committed to ensuring a thorough and diligent search process, and we look forward to your engagement in the exciting journey ahead.
Mary Studders Korn ’82
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Marietta College
Community Participation
The vibrant and dynamic Marietta College community is at the heart of everything we do, including selecting our next president. The Marietta College community, comprised of dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends, plays an integral role in shaping the future of our institution. We value their insights, input, and feedback as we embark on the search for our next president, understanding that their collective wisdom will help us identify a leader who will champion our mission and contribute to the continued success of Marietta College. Your involvement in this presidential search is crucial, and we invite you to be an active participant in this exciting journey to shape our institution's future.
The Search Committee welcomes nominations of qualified candidates for president from all members of our community. Nominations can be sent at any time directly to Storbeck Search at the email address MariettaPresident@storbecksearch.com. Comments and or suggestions regarding the search process can be sent to presidentsearch@marietta.edu.
About Marietta College
One of America's 37 "Revolutionary Colleges," Marietta College was founded in 1835, with origins reaching back to the 18th century when it was established initially as the Muskingum Academy in 1797.
Steering the Search
Marietta College has a vibrant community of caring faculty and staff who are deeply invested in student success. With a long history and bright future ahead, Marietta is entering an important moment of transition in seeking a new president. The Presidential Search Committee is collaborating closely with the Board to identify a leader who recognizes Marietta’s strengths, meets current needs, and can guide the College into the future.
We appreciate the Board’s dedication to a thoughtful search process, the Search Committee’s commitment to best practices, and the engagement of the entire Marietta community in envisioning the path forward. By working together, we will ensure a smooth leadership transition that honors Marietta’s legacy while embracing new opportunities.
Rochelle "Rocky" Goodwin’96, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
David Hill ’84, Trustee
Co-Chairs of Presidential Search
The members of the President Search Committee include:
- Rochelle "Rocky" Goodwin ’96, Marietta College Trustee; Senior Associate Vice President for Academic and Public Strategy, West Virginia University; Committee Co-Chair
- David Hill ’84, Marietta College Trustee; Retired Executive Vice President, Exploration & Business Development, ENCANA Oil & Gas, Inc.; Committee Co-Chair
- Kathryn Bailey ’05, Marietta College Trustee; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, & Treasurer, Peoples Bancorp Inc.
- Michael Dailey, Sergeant, Marietta College Police Department
- Jack Hopkins ’65, Marietta College Trustee; Founder/Owner, Jack Hopkins Consulting Services LLC
- Craig Howald, Ph.D., Marietta College Associate Professor of Physics
- Michael Moffitt ’91, JD, Marietta College Trustee, Philip H. Knight Chair in Law, Faculty-in-Residence, Clark Honors College, University of Oregon
- Kevin O’Neill ’87, Marietta College Trustee; Managing Partner, Acertitude LLC
- Alexandra Perry, Ph.D., Marietta College Assistant Professor, McDonough Center for Leadership and Business
- Gi Smith, Marietta College Director of Communication, Division of Communication and Brand Management
- Douglas Spencer ’87, Marietta College Alumni Association Council Member; Owner, Brenneman LLC
- Jim Wilson ’69, Marietta College Trustee; Principal, SLOFLT Group LLC
- Auva Zandi ’24, Marietta College Student, Student Government Association Parliamentarian
Our Search Partners — Storbeck Search
A seasoned search professional with more than two decades of experience in higher education executive search, Steve has conducted searches for presidents, vice presidents, senior development officers, deans, and other executives. Moreover, Steve speaks on issues relating to the future of leadership in higher education nationally and internationally.
Before entering the executive search industry, Steve held several positions at the George Washington University, working directly for the president of the University. He is currently active in a number of community organizations in Virginia and New York.
Vicki Henderson, Senior Associate
Vicki’s career in higher education recruiting began more than 20 years ago. She has led and managed recruitment efforts for college and university president, provost, dean, and director searches, as well as searches for leaders in development, student affairs, finance and administration, and institutional effectiveness at both public and private institutions.
Vicki has been an active volunteer within her community, including assisting with fundraising, admissions, and strategic planning efforts within the local parochial schools. Her devotion to quality education cemented her desire to work in higher education recruitment.
Presidential Search Communications
- September 25, 2023
Dear Member of our Marietta College Community,
I am pleased to share that the Executive Committee of the Marietta College Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to approve the membership of the committee that will lead our search for Marietta’s 21st President.
The members of the President Search Committee include:
- Rochelle "Rocky" Goodwin ’96, Marietta College Trustee; Senior Associate Vice President for Academic and Public Strategy, West Virginia University; Committee Co-Chair
- David Hill ’84, Marietta College Trustee; Retired Executive Vice President, Exploration & Business Development, ENCANA Oil & Gas, Inc.; Committee Co-Chair
- Kathryn Bailey ’05, Marietta College Trustee; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, & Treasurer, Peoples Bancorp Inc.
- Michael Dailey, Sergeant, Marietta College Police Department
- Jack Hopkins ’65, Marietta College Trustee; Founder/Owner, Jack Hopkins Consulting Services LLC
- Craig Howald, Ph.D., Marietta College Associate Professor of Physics
- Michael Moffitt ’91, JD, Marietta College Trustee, Philip H. Knight Chair in Law, Faculty-in-Residence, Clark Honors College, University of Oregon
- Kevin O’Neill ’87, Marietta College Trustee; Managing Partner, Acertitude LLC
- Alexandra Perry, Ph.D., Marietta College Assistant Professor, McDonough Center for Leadership and Business
- Gi Smith, Marietta College Director of Communication, Division of Communication and Brand Management
- Douglas Spencer ’87, Marietta College Alumni Association Council Member; Owner, Brenneman LLC
- Jim Wilson ’69, Marietta College Trustee; Principal, SLOFLT Group LLC
- Auva Zandi ’24, Marietta College Student, Student Government Association Parliamentarian
Please note that every member of the Search Committee will be asked to agree to and uphold the terms of the Committee Charge. As such, the Committee will conduct its work in a manner that is inclusive and transparent while protecting candidate confidentiality. Though individual committee members will not be permitted to share information with you about the Committee’s work or the candidates, the Co-Chairs of the Committee will update our community on the progress of the search at appropriate intervals over the coming months.
The Board understands that this is a critical time for Marietta College to solidify its place in an evolving higher education landscape, and that our next leader will play a critical role in assuring our success. We have every confidence that this committee will recommend to the Board candidates who are qualified to embrace both challenges and opportunities for Marietta College. We thank each member of the Committee for their ongoing commitment to the College, its students, and our shared future.
Sincerely,
Mary Korn ’82
Chair, Board of Trustees
- October 17, 2023
Dear Members of the Marietta College Community:
Following up on the message from Board of Trustees Chair Mary Korn dated September 25, 2023, it is with great honor that we formally begin the process of finding the next President of Marietta College.
Community Input
Your input is vital as we begin the search for Marietta College’s 21st president. What priorities and qualities should we seek in candidates? You are invited to share your thoughts at campus forums on October 18-19 with Steve Leo of Storbeck Search, our search partner.
Search Communications
To support communication, a presidential search website is being created and will be available soon. This will allow the Board of Trustees and the Search Committee to provide ongoing information about the search.
Search Committee
The 13-member Search Committee is committed to ensuring the continuation of the important work that happens at Marietta today, as well as the College’s future growth and success.
The Presidential Search Committee members are:
- Rochelle "Rocky" Goodwin ’96, Marietta College Trustee; Senior Associate Vice President for Academic and Public Strategy, West Virginia University; Committee Co-Chair
- David Hill ’84, Marietta College Trustee; Retired Executive Vice President, Exploration & Business Development, ENCANA Oil & Gas, Inc.; Committee Co-Chair
- Kathryn Bailey ’05, Marietta College Trustee; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, & Treasurer, Peoples Bancorp Inc.
- Michael Dailey, Sergeant, Marietta College Police Department
- Jack Hopkins ’65, Marietta College Trustee; Founder/Owner, Jack Hopkins Consulting Services LLC
- Craig Howald, Ph.D., Marietta College Associate Professor of Physics
- Michael Moffitt ’91, JD, Marietta College Trustee, Philip H. Knight Chair in Law, Faculty-in-Residence, Clark Honors College, University of Oregon
- Kevin O’Neill ’87, Marietta College Trustee; Managing Partner, Acertitude LLC
- Alexandra Perry, Ph.D., Marietta College Assistant Professor, McDonough Center for Leadership and Business
- Gi Smith, Marietta College Director of Communication, Division of Communication and Brand Management
- Douglas Spencer ’87, Marietta College Alumni Association Council Member; Owner, Brenneman LLC
- Jim Wilson ’69, Marietta College Trustee; Principal, SLOFLT Group LLC
- Auva Zandi ’24, Marietta College Student, Student Government Association Parliamentarian
The consultants from Storbeck Search, who are partnering with the Search Committee, are Steve Leo, Managing Director, and Vicki Henderson, Senior Associate. If you know an individual you would like to nominate for the presidency, please share their name and contact information with Storbeck directly and confidentially at MariettaPresident@storbecksearch.com.
Timeline and Process
Once the community survey is completed and a candidate profile is finalized, the advertising and recruiting phase of the search process will commence. The search committee is mindful that the final selection of Marietta’s next president ultimately rests with the Board of Trustees, and our goal is to recommend a small group of qualified candidates to the Board in the spring. To attract the most qualified candidates, this will be a confidential search, and as such, candidates will not be publicly identified. However, other search-related information will be updated and shared on the search webpage throughout the process.
Thank you for your support and your participation in the search process. We look forward to hearing your thoughts through the community survey.
Sincerely,
Rochelle Goodwin ‘96
David Hill ‘84
Co-Chairs, Marietta College Presidential Search Committee
- November 16, 2023
Dear Marietta College Community,
We are pleased to announce that the presidential search profile is complete, and the recruitment process for our 21st president is underway! The profile is now available on the Presidential Search website for all interested parties to view.
To initiate recruiting efforts, advertisements for the position are being placed in several national publications, with the aim of eliciting responses from qualified candidates across the country. Additionally, our search consultants, Steve Leo and Vicki Henderson from the national search firm of Storbeck Search, have started the process of reviewing nominated prospective candidates, as well as actively recruiting prospective candidates. We are eager to hear from individuals within the Marietta community concerning thoughts and ideas that can benefit this search. We invite you to nominate individuals whom you believe the committee should consider for President of Marietta College by e-mailing names and information to: MariettaPresident@storbecksearch.com.
The Search Committee will review applications in the coming months and work toward confidential interviews in March. The Board will then move forward with the process of selecting the next President. We will continue to provide regular updates to you as we move along in the process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
A search for a President requires a careful balance between transparency of the process and confidentiality, including individual candidates’ names. We thank you for understanding that the best candidates require confidentiality and that the committee members have all agreed to abide by this rule.
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who provided the President Search Committee with input through campus meetings, online survey and emails. The input was valuable and helped with crafting the profile.
Thank you for your support, as we move forward with this important search.
Sincerely,
Rochelle Goodwin ‘96
David Hill ‘84
Co-Chairs, Marietta College Presidential Search Committee
- December 18, 2023
Dear Marietta College Community,
As 2023 draws to a close, we are writing with an update on the search for Marietta College's 21st President.
Last month, we posted the position profile and launched the active recruitment process. We appreciate your help sharing the job posting and providing quality nominees. We are pleased to share that we have received promising interest and applications, with more expected in January after the holidays.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Search Committee will continue reviewing applications through January. We plan to conduct confidential interviews in March. As this is a closed search, candidate names will not be shared during the interview process. The Board will then move forward with the selection of the next President in the spring 2024.
The position profile remains posted on the Marietta College Presidential Search website. Advertisements for the position have appeared in several publications, including the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, and Women in Higher Education. Additionally, our search consultants, Steve Leo and Vicki Henderson, are actively recruiting prospective candidates.
Please continue sharing this opportunity with any potential candidates in your network. We also invite your input on topics to cover in the interviews through this brief survey that is open until January 25.
In addition, you can forward nominations for President to the search firm at MariettaPresident@storbecksearch.com.
Thank you for engaging with this pivotal process for Marietta College's future. We look forward to providing the next update in early 2024.
Sincerely,
Rochelle Goodwin ‘96
David Hill ‘84
Co-Chairs, Marietta College Presidential Search Committee
- January 18, 2024
Dear Marietta College Community,
Happy New Year! We hope 2024 is off to a great start for you. As the College community returns for the spring semester, we are excited to provide an update on the presidential search process.
There has been tremendous interest in this opportunity to lead Marietta College into the future. We continue to receive impressive applications and nominations from highly qualified candidates. The search committee is enthusiastic about the pool of potential candidates so far. However, we will welcome nominations through the end of January, so please share this opportunity within your networks and forward any nominees to the search firm at MariettaPresident@storbecksearch.com.
The position profile remains posted on the Marietta College Presidential Search website, and our search consultants are actively recruiting prospective candidates.
In December, we gathered your insights through a community survey to help shape our interview process. Thank you to all who provided feedback so far. Your perspectives are invaluable. If you have not yet completed the survey, please take a few minutes to do so by January 25.
Overall, the search is progressing smoothly and remains on track for confidential first-round interviews in March. We are confident the Board of Trustees will be able to select Marietta College's next president this spring.
We encourage you to visit the search website for regular updates and information. As always, please share any thoughts or questions with the committee.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Here’s to an outstanding 2024 for Marietta College!
Sincerely,
Rochelle Goodwin ‘96
David Hill ‘84
Co-Chairs, Marietta College Presidential Search Committee
FAQs
- What is the purpose of the Search Committee?
The Search Committee is charged by the Board of Trustees to work with the search consultant, Storbeck Search, to conduct a national search to attract a diverse field of highly qualified candidates and using best practices and protocols recommend finalists to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will make the final decision on electing the president, in accordance with the College's bylaws.
- How was the Search Committee selected?
The Search Committee was carefully selected to represent the perspectives of a variety of Marietta College constituencies. Faculty council, staff council, the Marietta College Alumni Association and the Student Government were asked to follow their respective processes to nominate representatives for participation in the search committee to the Chair of the Board of Trustees. The committee is comprised of a talented group, and is small enough to work effectively.
- Why is the College using a confidential search process?
A confidential search provides candidates the opportunity to explore and pursue the presidency of Marietta College without risk of compromising their current positions. It enables Marietta to attract the most talented, highly qualified candidates, most of whom we anticipate will hold key leadership positions at other institutions or organizations.
- Who has the responsibility to appoint the next President of Marietta College?
The Board of Trustees has the responsibility for appointing the President of Marietta College.
- How can I provide input about the qualities and qualifications for the next president?
The search committee welcomes and invites input from the wider Marietta College community. There will be several opportunities to provide input.
Our search partner, Storbeck Search, will be leading a series of meetings and forums on campus on Wednesday, October 18, and Thursday, October 19, to provide faculty and staff the opportunity to share their thoughts on the attributes of our next president.
Also, an online Marietta College Community survey opened October 17 and will run through October 30 to provide another opportunity to share valuable input to assist the Search Committee and Board of Trustees.
- Who is the search firm?
To aid in the Presidential Search, a leading firm in higher education, Storbeck Search, has been retained to support the Committee by using industry standards for best practice protocols, help gathering input from key stakeholders and attracting a strong candidate pool and managing the interview process. Storbeck has significant expertise in successfully managing searches for executive leadership in the education sector as well as guiding many recent Presidential searches specifically in liberal arts colleges.
- How will the Search Committee identify and attract a diverse pool of candidates?
The Board of Trustees has engaged an experienced presidential search firm, Storbeck Search, to assist the Search Committee. The search will use best practices and standardized protocols throughout the search process. Nominations will be sought from the Marietta community and others to help in this process.
- How can I provide candidates to the committee for the Presidential Search?
If you have individuals whom you would like to nominate for the presidency, you can share the name and contact information with Storbeck directly and confidentially at MariettaPresident@storbecksearch.com.
- How can I find out more information about the process and updates on the search?
The Marietta College community will be kept informed through periodic email updates from the co-chairs of the Search Committee. This Presidential Search Page serves as the primary source for news and information related to the search.
- When should we expect to find out who the next President of Marietta is?
It is the Board of Trustees intention to announce the next president of the college during the spring, and welcome the new president to campus in the summer of 2024.