Dear Luther College Colleagues,

On behalf of the Board of Regents, we want to thank you for your feedback about the upcoming presidential search, following the announcement this week of President Carlson’s retirement.

We know how important it is that we work together on behalf of Luther College always, but especially during this time of transition. We have two major priorities before us: implementing the initiatives outlined in our new comprehensive strategic plan, and identifying and selecting our next president.

Consistent communications will be vital to our success during this process. The board will send regular email updates to the Luther community during the search process. In addition, President Carlson and members of the leadership cabinet will provide regular updates on the progress of the strategic plan initiatives.

This note is the first of our presidential search updates.

Presidential Search Process and Timeline

Bob Paulson, vice chair of the Board of Regents and chair of the Institutional Planning & Board Affairs committee, will lead the presidential search process and chair the search committee.

Our timeline is to begin the formal search process this fall, identify and select the new president by the end of the 2018-19 academic year, transition over the summer and have the new president in place for the start of the 2019-20 academic year.

Over the next several weeks, we will define the qualifications and experience we are seeking in a new president, in the context of the needs of the college and our community and the priorities outlined in our comprehensive strategic plan. We also will formally establish the search committee, select the firm we will use to conduct the presidential search process, and outline the search process and timeline.

The presidential search committee will include representatives from faculty, staff, students, regents and regent emeriti, and other key stakeholders. We have begun the process of identifying and interviewing firms who specialize in college presidential searches. We are committed to select the firm that is best suited to lead a successful search for our Luther community by applying today’s best practices and standards in higher education.

Once the search firm is in place, you will be invited to send the names of potential candidates directly to the search firm for consideration and screening. Until then, please continue to forward candidate names to Bob Paulson, or other members of the Board, and we will pass those names on to the search firm that is selected.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our students and for Luther College. We look forward to working with you, President Carlson and members of the cabinet to ensure a smooth transition and strong future for Luther College.

Sincerely,

Wendy Davidson, ‘92, Board Chair

Bob Paulson, ‘78, Board Vice Chair, and Chair of the Institutional Planning & Board Affairs committee