President

Upon the retirement of Whittier College’s president, Dr. Sharon D. Herzberger, who led the campus over a successful 13-year tenure, the College currently seeks an innovative, entrepreneurial and visionary leader with strong interpersonal, communication and business planning skills to join the campus community as its next president.

Whittier is a residential, four-year liberal arts institution inspired by a Quaker heritage that prepares students to be active citizens and effective communicators who embrace diversity and act with integrity. While non-denominational since the 1940s, Whittier takes pride in the social values of its Quaker heritage – respect for the individual, freedom of conscience, integrity, justice, service and internationalism.

Whittier enrolls approximately 1,670 undergraduates and 73 graduate students and offers over 30 majors in 23 disciplines including business, political science, psychology, English and biology leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2017, Whittier granted 411 degrees, 395 of which were at the undergraduate level. Additionally, the College’s long-standing graduate program in education offers both credential and Master of Arts in education degree programs that further the institution's tradition of excellence in the preparation of teachers. Broadoaks Children's School – a private, non-profit demonstration school on the Whittier campus – serves as a learning laboratory for Whittier faculty and students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Whittier is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and its graduation rate for Latino students is among the best in the nation. In addition, the College qualifies for the designation of an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). The Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC), when reaffirming accreditation, observed that "Learning outcomes have been established, and evidence has been collected on how students experience diversity on campus. The Commission joins the team in commending Whittier for providing a full and rich experience in the classroom, in co-curricular activities, in the living environment and in field experiences with respect to culture and diversity."

The president reports directly to an engaged Board of Trustees and oversees a leadership team who manage the divisions of Academic Affairs, Advancement, Enrollment, Finance and Administration, Student Affairs and Athletics. The next president will collaborate with the Board, campus leadership, faculty, staff and students to develop a vision and long-term strategic business plan that takes advantage of the campus’s diversity, committed faculty, physical plant and high functioning leadership team. The next president will have the opportunity to leverage Whittier’s unique identity as one of the most diverse four-year liberal arts institutions in the country, and position it as a national model for the future.

Whittier’s incoming president will be expected to build strong, productive and long-lasting relationships with current and future donors, alumni, friends, community members and government officials that lead to new revenue streams and external resource support for the campus. The president should be a skilled advocate and chief fundraiser for the institution with a deep understanding and knowledge of enrollment and budget management. The president will focus on delivering transformational campus-wide outcomes by working in close partnership with a distinguished faculty and dedicated staff to embolden the College’s commitment to academic and co-curricular excellence. Although Whittier’s enrollment is stable, the next president should be well educated in enrollment trends that take into account appropriate levels of tuition discounting and its impact on the institution’s budget. The successful candidate should also build productive internal relationships with faculty, staff, administration and students while promoting a culture of transparency, inclusion and collaboration. The president should be an inspirational leader and an active listener with high energy.

In addition to encouraging traditional academic applicants, Whittier College is also interested in assessing interest from non-traditional candidates who have a passion for the liberal arts and sciences and a demonstrated track record of executive leadership, specific accomplishments in change management, organizational and professional development and strategic planning.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by January 12, 2018. Candidates should provide a CV, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile and the names and contact information of five references. Candidate confidentiality will be respected and references will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. Inquiries and application materials should be sent via email to the search consultants, Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. and Sophie Stava of Witt/Kieffer, at WhittierCollegePresident@wittkieffer.com.   Questions may also be directed to the consultants through the office of Eden Stroud at 630-575-6154.

Documents that must be mailed may be sent to:

Witt/Kieffer

c/o Eden Stroud

2 Park Plaza, Suite 1140

Irvine, CA 92614

Whittier College is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants because of race, religion creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, or sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal Law.