President

The Board of Trustees and Presidential Search Committee of Stetson University invite nominations for and expressions of interest in the position of President. Stetson's next president will join a dynamic university in an excellent position to chart a course for a new era of success and achievement. To succeed in this effort, the president must embrace and model Stetson's profound commitment to student success and academic excellence.

Founded in 1883, Stetson is a top-ranked, comprehensive university that enrolls more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its four locations: an historic 178-acre campus in DeLand, between Daytona Beach and Orlando – home to the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, and School of Music; in Celebration on the southwest side of Orlando; downtown Tampa; and its historic, top-ranked College of Law campus in Gulfport near St. Petersburg.

Stetson University has long served as a beacon for intellectual rigor and academic quality. As the first private university in Florida and home to the first Phi Beta Kappa chapter in the state, Stetson sustains an outstanding faculty with a long history of engaging students in undergraduate research, experiential learning and community service. Stetson University ranks No. 5 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 list of Best Regional Universities (South) and has been recognized in other rankings for undergraduate teaching, value and service to veterans. Its College of Law is ranked No. 1 for Trial Advocacy and No. 3 for Legal Writing in the United States by U.S. News. Stetson encourages its students to go beyond achieving success, to being significant — in their own lives, the lives of others and in their communities. Whether it’s donating thousands of hours of pro bono work at the College of Law or solving problems for an underserved community, Stetson students have taken on the challenge of applying coursework to the real world to make a difference. 

The university’s steadfast commitment to teaching and learning means that it has maintained its 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio even as it has increased undergraduate enrollment 47.6 percent since 2010. Stetson’s endowment has also grown in that time period, by 86 percent, to $256 million. The Beyond Success – Significance comprehensive campaign surpassed its original goal, reaching $212 million to date. During this campaign, Stetson received the largest single gift in its history — $18 million for a new health and science initiative. Stetson is thriving with vibrant campuses enriched by strong athletics programs, cultural activities and student organizations, caring faculty and staff, and a deep sense of belonging. More information about the university and the presidential search may be found at www.stetson.edu.

The next president of Stetson University will possess exceptional leadership, business and organizational skills coupled with a deep understanding of and passion for higher education. While an earned terminal degree and a history as a member of a tenured faculty are strongly preferred, candidates with successful track records of leadership in other enterprises will be considered. To this end, candidates with experience in a multi-stakeholder environment and those with inclusive, transparent leadership styles – characterized by wide consultation, dedicated followership and a commitment to equity and inclusion – are welcomed. Required are exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, energy and enthusiasm for advocating on behalf of the university, and aptitude and zest for philanthropic fundraising.

Inquiries, nominations, applications and requests for the complete Leadership Profile may be directed to the Witt/Kieffer consultants supporting this search: Lucy A. Leske, Dennis M. Barden and Robert W. Luke via email at StetsonPresident@wittkieffer.com. For fullest consideration, application materials (including a letter of application and a curriculum vitae/resume) should be received by August 1, 2019. Candidate confidentiality will be respected, and references will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates.  Please visit www.wittkieffer.com for more information.

Stetson University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, age, marital status or disability in the recruitment and employment of its faculty and staff.  Stetson University's commitment to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination extends to recruitment, employment, advancement and promotion, compensation and benefits administration, training and development and other personnel actions.