St. Mary’s College of Maryland has commenced a search for its eighth president with the naming of a Presidential Search Committee, following the May 9, 2024 announcement from President Tuajuanda C. Jordan, Ph.D., that she will retire in June 2025.
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Presidential Search Committee is working in conjunction with leadership recruitment firm WittKieffer to identify a diverse group of candidates who are committed to SMCM’s mission, values, and future.
Please check back for updates as the search process continues.
Letter to SMCM Community, Oct. 10, 2024
Letter to SMCM Community from Presidential Search Committee Chair Ray Wernecke
Dear SMCM Community,
Key to selecting our next president is involving the community with whom they will collaborate, serve and lead. Over the last month, the Presidential search committee with our consultants from WittKieffer conducted extensive community listening sessions. We have also received over 50 responses to our online survey. In these sessions and survey responses, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends offered their perspectives, hopes and dreams for the future of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. On behalf of the search committee and the Board of Trustees, I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all who participated.
The search committee is pleased to share the Leadership Profile that captures the major themes from the listening sessions and surveys. Over the next several months, working with our search consultants, we will contact the individuals who are suggested by members of the SMCM community and reach out to other individuals who have the experience and personal qualities we are seeking in our next leader. We encourage you to stay connected to the search by keeping an eye on our Presidential Search website.
This is an exciting time as we launch into the market! If you have any candidate suggestions, please do share them with our search partners at WittKieffer: SMCMPresident@wittkieffer.com.
With gratitude,
Ray
Presidential Search Timeline
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September through mid-October 2024: Community-wide listening sessions and input survey; development of leadership profile and launch of the national search.
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December 9, 2024: Priority Application Date
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Mid-October through December 2024: Candidate recruitment; semi-finalist selection
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January-February 2025: Candidate interviews; referencing and due diligence; and further winnowing of the candidate pool
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Spring 2025: Election of the new president by the Board of Trustees
Listening Sessions and Community Input Survey
Faculty, staff, students, friends and local community members were encouraged to participate in listening sessions. For those who were unable to attend a listening session, input can also be shared via this confidential survey.
In addition, to provide confidential input to WittKieffer, please email SMCMPresident@wittkieffer.com.
Presidential Search Committee
Trustee Ray Wernecke has agreed to serve as chair.
The other committee members are:
- Nicolas Abrams ’99, Trustee
- Dinush Athauda ’26, Student and SGA Vice President
- Donny Bryan ’73, Trustee
- Susan Dyer, Trustee
- Todd Eberly, Professor of Political Science and Faculty Senate President
- Kate Fritz ’04, Trustee & Alumni Association President
- Sven Erik Holmes, Trustee
- Ayse Ikizler, Associate Professor of Psychology
- Kimberly B. Kelley, Trustee
- Elizabeth Leininger, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Neuroscience
- E. Jenell Sargent, Associate Vice President of Information Technology & Chief Information Officer
- Marsha Williams, Community Member and Adjunct Instructor
- John Bell ’95, Chair, Board of Trustees (ex-officio)