To the Meredith Community:

As you are aware, President Maureen Hartford announced in February 2010 that she will be stepping down from the Meredith College presidency in June 2011, after twelve years of service.

On behalf of the Meredith College Board of Trustees, I am writing to share information with you about the process that will soon be underway to search for the College’s eighth president.

The presidential search committee will be comprised of seven trustees, two faculty members, one student representative, one staff member and one representative from the Meredith College Alumnae Association. Nominations were solicited from the Meredith community for the student, faculty, staff and alumnae representatives.

At their meeting earlier this month, the board unanimously approved an outline that will be used to guide the search process for Meredith’s next leader and a charge that defines parameters for the search committee.

The board also endorsed the following individuals as members of the search committee:

Faculty Representatives
Monica McKinney, professor of education
Beth Mulvaney, professor of art history

Student Representative
Beth Howard, ’11

Staff Representative
Melyssa Allen, news director

Alumnae Association Representative
Deborah Matthews, Alumnae Association president

Trustee Representatives
Elizabeth Beam, ’72, search committee chair
Nancy Cheek, ’63, search committee vice chair
Alex Holmes
Randall Lolley
Maureen O’Connor
Deborah Dove Smith, ’80
C.C. Wiggins, ’76

As chair of the Meredith College Board of Trustees for 2010-11, I will serve as an ex-officio member of the search committee.

In accordance with the search process guidelines endorsed by the board, the search committee’s work is expected to commence in early September with input sessions designed to gather thoughts and ideas from faculty, staff, alumnae, students, community leaders and other interested constituents on the desired qualifications and credentials of the new president.

Additional information about the search process will be shared with the Meredith community at the beginning of the new academic year.

The coming year promises to be an important one in the life of the College, and I look forward to serving the institution during this exciting time.

Sincerely,

Sam Ewell
2010-11 Chair, Meredith College Board of Trustees