Applications and nominations for the next president of St. Thomas are being accepted at this time.
A website and leadership profile have been published for the position, and include information about the university and the role and responsibilities of the person who will succeed Father Dennis Dease. He will retire June 30, 2013, after 22 years as president.
“We greatly appreciate all of the input provided to us by the St. Thomas community regarding the unique characteristics of St. Thomas and the qualities and objectives you seek in the new president,” said John M. Morrison, a Board of Trustees member and chair of the search committee. “Now we ask for your assistance in identifying and nominating qualified individuals to serve as president.”
Anyone can nominate an individual, and all nominations will be treated confidentially, said Sara Gross Methner, general counsel and chief human resources officer, who is serving as staff to the search committee. Witt/Kieffer, the executive search firm that has been retained to assist with the search, will review and follow up on all nominations and applications as well as actively identify and recruit potential candidates, Gross Methner said.
Nominations and applications (including cover letter and résumé) should be submitted via email to USTPresident@wittkieffer.com. Material that cannot be emailed may be sent to:
President
University of St. Thomas
c/o Witt Kieffer
Attention: Katherine Haley or Dennis M. Barden
2015 Spring Road, Suite 510
Oak Brook, IL 60523
The 13-person search committee expects to review applications and identify semifinalists in October and to interview semifinalists in early November; thereafter, the committee will select finalists and expects to recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees by the end of 2012. The timing best enables St. Thomas to remain competitive with other presidential searches around the country.
Witt/Kieffer held on-campus forums in May and June, issued an invitation for input from the St. Thomas community (including 40,000 alumni) and worked with the search committee to develop the leadership profile for the position.
St. Thomas’ bylaws and the Board of Trustees govern the presidential search and selection process. The university’s bylaws allow only a Roman Catholic – priest, religious or lay person – to serve as president.
