The University of Mary Washington announced the selection of Baker and Associates as its partner in the search for the 10th president of the university on Friday, June 12.
Baker and Associates is an executive search firm established in 2007 whose team brings 60 years of experience to UMW’s search. The search will be led by Senior Vice President Martin Baker. Baker and Associates has conducted more than 500 searches at colleges and universities both in the commonwealth and across the country. Previous presidential and chancellor searches have included the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2015, Appalachian State University in 2014 and Western Carolina University in 2011.
“Martin Baker brings a combined passion for liberal arts education and the extensive experience necessary to conduct an innovative and strategic executive search,” said Holly Cuellar, rector for the University of Mary Washington’s Board of Visitors. “The search will be national in scope and every effort will be made to cultivate a rich pool of exceptionally well-qualified candidates for consideration.”
Baker and Associates was selected by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, which is chaired by Rector Cuellar, following several interviews with multiple firms. The firm will assist the search advisory committee with the initial screening, vetting, and interviewing of candidates and will support the Board of Visitors in the final selection of the next president.
“Being so well-known for its outstanding commitment to liberal arts, there’s already such prestige associated with Mary Washington,” said Baker. “With high-quality faculty, staff and students, along with a dedicated Board of Visitors, there is a lot about the university that will attract a robust pool of candidates.”
According to Baker, the firm will bring a hands-on approach in its proactive outreach to talented prospects who reflect the skill sets and leadership characteristics required by UMW. The firm has conducted a number of successful searches within Virginia, including searches at Longwood University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia and Christopher Newport University. Last year, the firm assisted with the recruitment of the new Dean of the Honors College at Virginia Commonwealth University and earlier this year completed the search to recruit the new Director of Institutional Equity at VCU.
President Richard V. Hurley announced his plan to retire, effective June 30, 2016. Hurley has served as UMW’s ninth president since July 1, 2010.
For more information about the presidential search, visit http://president.umw.edu/search/.