President

Clarke University is a Catholic liberal arts institution with professional programs providing an outstanding education for caring and responsible participation in a global world. Clarke seeks an innovative and ambitious president who lives its values and its mission to lead it into a new era of achievement and impact.

Founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary before Iowa was a state, the college has for nearly 175 years served the people of Iowa, the Midwest, and beyond by providing not only an outstanding education to its students but service to its community and leadership for society. People at Clarke – faculty, students, and staff alike – comprise a close-knit community of dedicated individuals. Everyone on campus celebrates Clarke’s commitment to student success, both inside and outside of the classroom, and through preparation for meaningful careers.

Clarke’s next president will build on this legacy, maintaining and enhancing the college’s sense of community, while articulating and implementing a clear, strategic, and innovative plan to ensure the college's long-term success. Key to this endeavor will be growing enrollment, building mutually beneficial partnerships with the Dubuque community and other academic institutions, engaging a broader group of donors in supporting major initiatives, and ensuring the necessary resources and infrastructure are in place to support students, faculty, and staff.       

The president will be a servant leader who is committed to Clarke’s core values and mission and will bring successful senior leadership experience within higher education. This leader will have the courage and vision to catalyze and lead change; the interpersonal and communication skills to inspire trust and support; the management expertise to build a strong cohesive leadership team; and the sophistication to engage a board of trustees in both short and long-term strategic decision-making. An earned terminal degree is very highly preferred, and a deep appreciation for and understanding of higher education, including the socio-economic and political changes impacting its trajectory, is a requirement. 

Dubuque is a picturesque, Victorian-era town on the banks of the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa. A family community, Dubuque has undertaken a renaissance as it reclaims its natural advantage – the river – for the enjoyment and economic development of the community. Dubuque residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with the dual advantages of small town living and the cultural amenities of an urban area. Clarke’s president has historically been deeply engaged as a leader in the Dubuque community.

A comprehensive leadership profile may be accessed online at: https://www.clarke.edu/wp-content/uploads/PO_Presidential-Search-Leadership-Profile_FINAL.pdf. Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by November 30, 2018. Candidates should provide a resume or curriculum vitae, 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 Clarke University's consultants, Dennis M. Barden, Concetta M. Stewart and Elizabeth K. Bohan of Witt/Kieffer, at ClarkePresident@wittkieffer.com.

Clarke University is committed to fostering a welcoming campus community that celebrates the unique contributions of each person and promotes an inclusive learning environment. To this end, we strive to respect diversity, practice inclusion and seek equity.