On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I want to thank the Colby community for participating in the campus forums held over the past few weeks, for taking our online survey, for sharing your nominations of potential candidates, and for the many other ways in which you have communicated with us. The information you shared helped us write a position prospectus that reflects where Colby is today and what we are seeking in our 20th president. That prospectus has been posted on this website. The document will be used to introduce potential candidates to Colby, and the principles articulated in it will guide the committee throughout the search process.

In addition to helping with the prospectus, feedback from you caused us to expand the committee to include two more members. Trustee Charles Terrell '70 and Dean Tashia Bradley will bring to the group academic and professional credentials that will be respected by candidates, and their expertise will help the committee determine the best way to engage with candidates about their commitment to diversity. Both also bring ethnic diversity to the committee itself, and in Dr. Bradley's case, better gender balance. 

Although the campus forums are over in this "listening phase'" of the search, we hope you will continue to communicate with us through the several means available. If you haven't yet taken the survey, you can do that at https://www.research.net/s/ColbyPresidentialSearch; we have extended the deadline to April 30 to be certain that all those who want to contribute have that chance. At any time during the search, you can contact us through the search website's "Contact and Feedback" page or by emailing presidential.search@colby.edu. There is also a place on the website where you can nominate candidates, or you can email nominations to Colby2013@storbeckpimentel.com. And those of you on campus should feel free to speak to the student, faculty, and administrative members of the committee. Their names are listed on the search website.

One question that has arisen in the campus forums and other settings concerns the way the final phase of the search will play out. When President Adams was hired, the final candidates all came to campus for forums with students, faculty, and staff. None of the candidates required total confidentiality at that stage, and of course the world was a different place in 1999. The various forms of instant communication available today mean that candidates engaging in public campus visits in 2013 must expect the news to spread quickly and far. For this reason, most presidential searches at institutions similar to Colby are now fully confidential in order to attract the strongest candidates. 

We have not yet determined how the final phase of the search will be handled and remain open to both models. Once the search committee has identified finalists and spoken to them about their needs regarding confidentiality, we will make a decision about how to proceed.

Again, thank you for your participation and your feedback. It is very clear that you care deeply for Colby and about its future.

Sincerely,

Michael Gordon '66
Chair, Presidential Search Committee