President, Earlham College & Earlham School of Religion

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion (ESR) are searching for a strategic and visionary new president to take office in the Summer of 2019. The successful candidate will assume leadership of Earlham and ESR at a critical juncture. As an institution grounded in the Quaker principles of mutual respect, integrity, simplicity, peace and community and with a mission to prepare its graduates to improve the world, there has never a greater need for what Earlham College and ESR offer. All colleges and universities — particularly small liberal arts schools — find themselves an increasingly cost-competitive environment. Earlham College, like many of its peers, is implementing strategies to remain financially sustainable. A major effort designed to capitalize on the College’s considerable strengths is well underway, including efforts to improve retention and graduation rates, provide transformative learning opportunities for its students, increase enrollment and net tuition revenue, and launch a major fundraising effort to strengthen its substantial endowment. The schools seek confident, forward-looking and stable leadership to fulfill its vital mission in the coming years.

Founded in 1960 as a Friends’ Seminary, Earlham School of Religion has evolved with the changing needs of the world. ESR blends academic rigor with spiritual formation, in pursuit of a holistic education designed to lead our students and alumni/ae to lives of creative ministry. Grounded in Christian belief with strong Quaker influences, ESR serves the wider ecumenical community. While preparing students for traditional roles in churches and meetings, ESR also recognizes and supports the many evolving forms of ministry and leadership.

Earlham College is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1847 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and located in Richmond, Indiana. Host to a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Earlham is recognized for the teaching excellence of its faculty. Other notable qualities include its Quaker heritage, focus on social justice, internationalism, and stewardship of the environment. Earlham’s graduates have found notable success, as reflected in part by its ranking in the top two percent nationally for the percentage of graduates who go on to receive Ph.D.’s and 8th for those who earn Ph.D.’s in the life sciences. Earlham enjoys a high percentage of international students, who come from more than 50 countries.

The College takes a progressive approach to the liberal arts and sciences, blending an exemplary classroom experience with a wide range of opportunities for experiential learning. Our students are expected to be active and engaged partners with faculty, taking an important role in shaping their own educational experiences. For the diverse group of students who embrace the opportunities we offer, Earlham provides exceptional preparation not just for graduate school and careers, but for rewarding and meaningful lives. Our alumni graduate ready and determined to improve the world.

Earlham serves approximately 1,100 students in its four-year undergraduate program. Its Graduate Programs in Education offer the Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education degrees, and the College has piloted a first-of-its-kind 3+1 degree to allow motivated students to earn both an undergraduate degree and an M.A.T. in only four years. Earlham School of Religion offers two master’s degrees and enrolls around 90 students.

Earlham and ESR seek a president who can work collaboratively with its faculty and Board of Trustees to realize the goals of the strategic plan, and prepare for the new challenges and possibilities of the next decade and beyond. The next president must be a person of high integrity and excellent character who can earn the trust and respect of the community. She or he must be a compelling spokesperson, an effective fundraiser, and possess a record of successful senior administrative leadership experience, preferably in an academic setting. An understanding of and respect for Quaker values, including consensus processes and shared governance, is important. A terminal degree is preferred but not required.

The full leadership profile and position description, including instructions for application, are available at www.earlham.edu/presidential-search.

Nominations and applications are invited for this position and the review of applications will begin immediately. For best consideration, please apply by December 9, 2018. Application materials should include a letter of application, a resume and the names and contact information for five references. References will not be contacted until later in the search process. All materials should be uploaded to: http://haleyassociates.hiringthing.com. 

Confidential inquiries and nominations may be directed to Katherine Haley, Ph.D., at EarlhamPresident@haleyassociates.net.

Earlham College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks applications from candidates who contribute to diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, age, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and veteran status, among other distinctions and contributions. As a College with a Quaker identity, Earlham also is eager to solicit applications from members of the Religious  Society of Friends (Quakers).

Earlham utilizes E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for all newly hired  employees within the United States.