Rutgers University Selects WittKieffer to Lead Search for 22nd President
November 5, 2024 – Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Rutgers University to lead in its search for its 22nd president. The university board of governors’ announcement officially initiates the process of selecting a successor to president Jonathan Holloway, who announced last month he would step down on June 30, 2025. “This is an important time for Rutgers University and an opportunity for Rutgers to chart a bold path forward,” said Amy L. Towers, chair of the board of governors. “Rutgers is in a terrific position to attract the best of the best in its next president. The university deserves a dynamic leader and communicator who shares Rutgers’ values, appreciates our multicampus identity, and brings with them experience running large, complex organizations with institutional effectiveness, accountability and a commitment to excellence.
“It is also critically important that any incoming president further Rutgers’ dedication to academic research, civic engagement, and its mission to enhance social mobility through access to higher education,” said Ms. Towers. “In partnership with the new president, the board of governors will continue to provide purposeful leadership to achieve our shared goals in ensuring the university reaches its highest potential for its students, student-athletes, faculty, staff and the state of New Jersey.”
The search will be guided by a presidential search committee, to be announced by the board of governors in the coming weeks and co-chaired by Ms. Towers and Alberto Cuitiño, dean of the School of Engineering. Committee members will be representative of the broader university community, campuses and constituencies, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and other key stakeholders who bring a deep understanding of Rutgers’ values and needs.
“I look forward to working with the board of governors and am confident that we will identify and choose a candidate who will lead Rutgers into the future, building upon the university’s legacy as a premier academic and research institution,” said Mr. Cuitiño. “We want this process to be inclusive and invite members from across Rutgers’ diverse and expansive community to participate and provide valuable feedback.”
As the university’s governing body, the board of governors is tasked with overseeing the presidential search process and ultimately appointing the next president of Rutgers University, working closely with the administration to ensure a smooth process and transition.
As part of the process, the presidential search committee will host a series of listening sessions and campus town halls facilitated by WittKieffer and launch a website to keep the Rutgers community informed, provide regular updates and gather additional feedback. The board of governors’ goal is to appoint a successor and have a new university president in place by July 1, 2025.
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“The Rutgers board of trustees has the obligation to ensure leadership continues the trajectory of success Rutgers has had, while honoring all those who have given so much to get us where we are,” said Amy B. Mansue, chair of the Rutgers board of trustees. “We are confident that we will find the individual who will cherish this diverse, vibrant university.”
Nation’s Eighth Oldest College
Founded in 1766, Rutgers is the nation’s eighth oldest college. Rutgers University-New Brunswick is the flagship campus, with an enrollment of more than 42,000 students (about 33,650 undergraduates and 8,600 graduate students). The school employs about 10,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff. Its annual budget is upwards of $1.7 billion.
WittKieffer Recruits 7th President for Franklin Pierce University
Following a unanimous vote of the board of trustees, Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer has assisted in the recruitment of Peter A. Eden as the 7th president of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. President Kim Mooney recently retired after serving eight years. Lucy Leske, Jeff Compher, and Kim Migoya led the assignment. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Peter Eden as the next president of Franklin Pierce University,” said Steve Duprey, chair of the university’s board of trustees. “Dr. Eden’s remarkable track record of innovative leadership in higher education and his dedication to enhancing academic programs and financial stability make him uniquely qualified to lead Franklin Pierce. We are confident that under his leadership, the University will achieve new heights of success.”
In 2020, Rutgers used Funk Associates to recruit Mr. Holloway as the first black president of Rutgers University. He was selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants.
WittKieffer assists hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, medical schools, and physician groups; biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical device companies; colleges and universities, and not-for-profit community service and cultural organizations with senior administrative recruiting assignments. With more than 100 search professionals nationwide, its consultants recruit CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CNOs, physician executives, and other leaders.
Related: Villanova University Retains WittKieffer to Find VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
