Oglethorpe University is launching the search for its seventeenth president, who will lead the institution following the fifteen-year tenure of Dr. Lawrence M. Schall. Board of Trustees Chair Timothy P. Tassopoulos ’81 has named a search committee comprised of trustees, faculty, staff, student, and alumni representatives.
“Selecting a president is one of the most important responsibilities of any board,” said Tassopoulos. “Oglethorpe is fortunate to have an engaged and active board that will make a selection during a time of significant growth and positive momentum for the university. Our goal is to select a person who will continue to strengthen Oglethorpe while staying true to our mission.”
The search committee is chaired by Trustee S. Tammy Pearson ’86 and will be assisted by Diversified Search, a national top ten executive search firm.
The committee also includes:
Dr. Mario Chandler, professor of Spanish
Mark W. DeLong ’03, immediate past president, Oglethorpe Alumni Association
Colleen Donaldson, special assistant to the president
Dr. J. Lynn Gieger, professor of mathematics
Jack Guynn H’05, trustee
Belle Turner Lynch ’61 H’10, trustee
Glenn Kaiser ’20, 2019-2020 student body president
Timothy Randall Roberson ’97, trustee
John Shelnutt ’84, trustee
Jim Winestock ’14, trustee
Dr. Katharine Zakos, assistant professor of communication studies
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Diversified Search has nine offices around the country. Founded in 1974, the firm is one of the top 10 executive search firms in the U.S. Diversified Search currently operates in nine offices throughout the U.S. and is the official U.S. partner of AltoPartners, the global alliance of international search firms operating in 34 countries across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Open forums will be held on campus at the start of the fall semester to gather input from students, faculty, and staff. A presidential search website (presidentialsearch.oglethorpe.edu) also includes an opportunity for alumni and community members to submit nominations, input, and comments. The committee plans to conclude the search process in spring 2020, at which time the Board of Trustees will make a final selection for Oglethorpe’s seventeenth president.
