AGB Search Seeks New President for Princeton Theological Seminary
May 23, 2022 – Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, was recently called in by Princeton Theological Seminary to lead its search for a new president. Consultants Loren Anderson and Shannon McCambridge are spearheading the assignment.
The seminary is deeply committed to its Presbyterian identity and heritage. Credentials as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian church with a doctorate in a relevant field are preferred. The successful candidate must have evidence of recognized scholarship and a record of progressive responsibility in executive leadership in the church, the academy, or a non-profit or faith-based organization. The president will be expected to joyfully model servant leadership and unify diverse groups of people around an inspiring vision, said AGB Search. The president must also represent the seminary with a greater external focus and promote its unique platform for advancing the church’s influence in a complex world. In addition, the president will have an optimistic and entrepreneurial spirit and the emotional intelligence to authentically engage others with humility, inter-cultural competence, and diplomacy, the search firm said. Additional demonstrated capabilities in fundraising, team building, strategic planning, and exceptional communication skills are expected.
The new president’s priorities will revolve around advancing Princeton Theological Seminary’s strategic plan: Over the past year, the organization has taken the lead in developing a new strategic plan that was approved last October. The plan is based on three long-term goals that call the seminary to form faithful and effective Christian leaders, provide theological leadership for the church and the world, and to create and embody a community of belonging. Other duties for this role can be found here.
Related: AGB Search Seeks CHRO for Gonzaga University
Princeton Theological Seminary, officially the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, NJ. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), it is the second-oldest seminary in the U.S. It is also the largest of 10 seminaries associated with the Presbyterian Church.
Serving Universities
AGB Search conducts searches for college and university presidents, chancellors, provosts, vice presidents, deans, university system heads, and CEOs of coordinating boards and related foundations. The firm was founded by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) in 2010.
Cultivating the Higher Education Leadership Pipeline
In this brand new episode of ‘Talent Talks,’ Hunt Scanlon Media host Rob Adams is joined by Rod McDavis, managing principal of AGB Search and Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor Emerita of the State University of New York system. In this podcast, Dr. McDavis and Dr. Zimpher share recent trends in higher education leadership including diversity and how AGB’s Institute for Leadership & Governance is changing the game. Listen now!
Ms. McCambridge, who joined AGB Search in 2014, has focused on serving the executive search needs in Catholic higher education across the country. In addition to an advanced degree in employment law, her professional background includes many years of practicing and teaching employment law. Ms. McCambridge provides anti-bias training for AGB Search clients. The training is designed to educate search committee on the existence of implicit bias and provide safeguards in the selection process in order to create a more diverse and welcoming workplace.
Dr. Anderson came to AGB Search in 2012 as an executive search consultant following a career in the private, liberal arts and comprehensive university sector of higher education. Prior to joining the search firm, he served as president of Pacific Lutheran University (WA) for 20 years, during which time the university gained national status. He has completed over 50 presidential and senior executive searches. Leadership development has a been a special focus throughout Dr. Anderson’s campus career as he recruited, hired, and mentored dozens of rising leaders for major positions. Now, in addition to his work with AGB Search, he is co-director of the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) fellows leader development program that prepares emerging leaders from Lutheran colleges and universities for executive roles.
Related: AGB Search Selected by University of North Dakota to Find Provost
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
