Presidential Search
Members of the Search Committee
Trustees
- Ms. Mimi Aledo-Sandoval C’01, Policy Director, Alliance for Early Success, Washington, DC
- Dr. Sarah Berga, Incoming Chair and Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
- Dr. Patrice Davis C’89, Vice President for Student Services, Trident Technical College, Charleston, SC
- Ms. Terrie Davis A’63, C’67, Attorney (retired) and community volunteer, Winston-Salem, NC
- Ms. Lossie Freeman C’97, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Zip Code Wilmington, Wilmington, DE
- Rev. David Guthrie, President, Moravian Provincial Elders Conference (Southern), Winston-Salem, NC
- Ms. Katherine Holland-Ortiz C’00, Executive Director, Perkins International, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA
- Ms. Robin Howell A’79, Paralegal, Wells Fargo, Charlotte, NC
- Dr. Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran, former President Emerita, Kalamazoo College and former VP of Salem Academy and College and Dean of Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC
Faculty
- Ms. Michelle Hopkins Lawrence, Faculty Member, Department of History, Salem Academy
- Dr. Tina Flowers, Chair and Assistant Professor, Department of Business and Economics, Salem College
- Dr. Sheryl Long, Director and Associate Professor, Teacher Education and Graduate Studies in Education, Salem College
- Dr. Traci Porter, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Salem College
Administrators
- Ms. Kathy M. Barnes C’81, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
- Mr. Kenneth Buchanan, Vice President for Finance and Administration, CFO
- Ms. Emily Young, Salem’s Director of Human Resources and Benefits, is the staff member who will support our Committee.
Students
- Amira Rady (A’20) from Lawrenceville, NJ, Sisters Scholar, Honor Cabinet President
- Megan Sigler (C’21) from Kernersville, NC, SGA President
Downloads
- Position Description for the President of Salem Academy and College (PDF)
- Official posting for the President of Salem Academy and College position (PDF)
June 12, 2020
Dear Salem Academy and College Community:
I am writing to give you an update on the Salem Academy and College Presidential Search. After holding our initial meeting on March 31, 2020, the Presidential Search Committee has met three additional times to date (all virtually), with our most recent meeting taking place on June 1, 2020.
Since our first meeting on March 31, the committee solicited feedback and suggestions through surveys and virtual focus groups from various stakeholders regarding the top priorities and values for Salem, the most pressing challenges it is facing, and the direction the institution needs to take in order to successfully pivot toward the future.
At the June 1 meeting, the committee finalized and approved a job description and the posting of an ad, which can be reviewed on the Presidential Search section of both the Salem Academy and the Salem College websites. The position was posted on The Chronicle of Higher Education and HigherEdJobs websites on June 5 and LinkedIn on June 8, and there are multiple networks being explored in health-related organizations and institutions.
The goal of the Presidential Search Committee is to perform an expedited and confidential search with the hope of having the position filled early this fall.
To make a nomination or to request additional information, please email the committee at presidential.search@salem.edu.
Sincerely,
McDara P. Folan, III
Chair, Presidential Search Committee and
Chair, Salem Academy and College Board of Trustees
May 18, 2020
The Salem Presidential Search Committee has been working diligently since its initial meeting on March 31, 2020 to solicit feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders regarding the top priorities and values for Salem, the most pressing challenges it is facing, and the direction for the institution to take in order to pivot successfully toward the future. A survey was sent to the current faculty and staff of the institution as well as to the Board of Trustees and the Board of Visitors. Additionally, several focus groups were assembled and meetings were facilitated to discuss the vision for Salem’s future and its next leader. A synopsis is below:
Survey
4/11/20 - The Presidential Search Committee sent a survey to a broad range of stakeholders to solicit feedback and opinions regarding the key priorities and challenges of the institution and the most desired qualities for the next President of Salem Academy and College to possess. Of those surveyed, 101 people responded; the results yielded the following:
The Top Values of the Institution’s Stakeholders:
- Academic excellence
- Commitment to education for girls and women
- Diversity of the student body
- Low student-faculty ratio and individual attention
The Top Priorities for the Institution:
- Financial management / stewardship of resources
- Achieving desired enrollment and retention goals
- Fundraising to support a thriving institution
- Ability to secure thriving local, regional, and national partnerships (for internships, careers, and fundraising)
- Marketing the institution locally and nationally
The Top Challenges for the Next President to Tackle:
- Financial stability
- Enrollment
The Most Desired Qualities for the Next President to Possess:
- Collaborative
- Business-minded
- Excellent communicator
- A personal connection to Salem; perhaps an alumna.
Focus Groups
4/14/20 - Meeting with parents of current Salem Academy students
4/15/20 - Meeting with Salem College Fleer and Graduate students
Some of the most prevalent themes from the conversations with the focus groups above included: the importance of community, traditions, academic rigor and experiential learning, and the desire to reinvent Salem so that the institution can thrive in the future while maintaining its roots, identity, and mission. Suggestions from the groups also included improving upon marketing, enrollment, and retention strategies.
The Salem Presidential Search Committee will meet again the week of May 4, 2020 to discuss and review a draft candidate package and to explore and discuss the first round of potential candidates from a pool of names provided to the Search Committee. As previously reported, the Salem Presidential Search Committee remains committed to its mission to recruit the best person to lead Salem at this important time in the institution’s history.
March 31, 2020
Dear Salem Academy and College Faculty and Staff,
I am pleased to let you know that the search for Salem’s new president is underway. As chair of the Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee, I am honored to serve with a group of extremely talented individuals who bring a deep understanding of the institution along with diverse experience to this process. Our first (virtual) meeting will be today, March 31.
Joining me as members of the Committee are:
Trustees
Faculty
Administrators
Students
Alexus Effler (C’20) from Marion, North Carolina, Studying Communications and Sociology, SGA President
At our first meeting, we will discuss the timeline and structure of our search process, including how we will seek input from the Salem community, as well as our initial thoughts on the qualifications of the leader we will seek.
I will report to the community periodically on the search process. Be assured that our Committee will be diligent in our efforts to recruit the best person—energetic, appreciative of our heritage, and enthusiastic about our future—to lead Salem at this important time in the institution’s history.
Sincerely,
McDara P. Folan, III
Chair
Board of Trustees