Presidential search under way

Skidmore’s sixth president, Jamienne S. Studley, has announced her intention to resign in June 2003. In an October letter to faculty, staff, students, and alumni, she wrote, “I will cherish my years at Skidmore,” and added that she is confident in “handing the reins of a strong and ambitious Skidmore to the next president.” Studley notes that the timing seems natural for a transition after the recent completion of Skidmore’s strategic plan, advances in academic quality and reputation, and approval of a plan for a major fundraising campaign in the near future. She says she looks forward to “addressing in new ways the things I care most about, including education, equity and opportunity, and civic and community engagement.”
With Studley’s announcement came a memo from Suzanne Corbet Thomas ’62, chair of Skidmore’s trustees, who moved quickly to start the search for a successor. A search committee, chaired by trustee John Howley ’80, has been formed and hopes to complete its work by summer or fall. Says Howley, “The committee is packed with extremely smart and dedicated people. We are in a great position to attract a president who will lead Skidmore into our second hundred years.” The committee will work with consultant Patricia van der Vorm of Academic Search Consultation Service in Washington, D.C.
Along with Howley, the search committee members are trustees William Dake, Beverly Harrison Miller ’67, Sara Lee Lubin Schupf ’62, Oscar Tang, Sue Corbet Thomas ’62, Linda Toohey, and Janet Lucas Whitman ’59; faculty members Carolyn Anderson (theater), Terence Diggory (English), Mark Hofmann (mathematics), and Jeffrey Segrave (exercise science); staffers Tracy Barlok (advancement) and Ann Henderson (registrar’s office); and students Rachael Beard ’05 and Evan Flath ’04.
The committee welcomes input from Skidmore community members; please see www.skidmore.edu/presidential-search, e-mail presidential.search@skidmore.edu, or call 518-584-3250. —SR