Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of the search committee?
The search committee will create a position profile, identify, interview, and evaluate potential candidates, and make a recommendation to the board of trustees. The cochairs of the search committee—Sydney Asbury ’01 and Bertrand Garcia-Moreno ’81, P’17—are the spokespersons for the committee and will provide regular updates to the Bowdoin community during the search process.

What is the timeline for naming a new president?
The search committee will work diligently to move the search process along as efficiently as possible while acting in what committee members believe to be the best interests of the College. Like many searches of this kind, it is difficult to predict exactly when the search will conclude. The goal is to have a new president in place by July 1, 2023, and inaugurated in the fall of 2023. Updates will be provided to the Bowdoin community as decisions are made and information becomes available while always keeping confidentiality top of mind.

Why is confidentiality so important in this process?
The search committee is committed to building the strongest and deepest candidate pool possible for our presidential search. Many of our candidates will only consider being an applicant if confidentiality is guaranteed.

How were the chairs selected?
The chairs were selected and announced by the chair of the board of trustees in consultation with the president and other trustees.

How will the position description be composed?
The search consultant will work with members of the search committee to draft the position description after gathering input from the Bowdoin community.

How will the Committee solicit input from trustees, faculty, students, staff, alumni, and others?
The search committee is committed to providing ways for faculty, staff, students, and alumni, to share their input. In addition to open forums for different constituent groups, small meetings, and one-on-one conversations, the committee encourages members of the Bowdoin community to submit their thoughts about the search and/or nominations to the search consultant.

Who approves the committee’s recommendation?
The search committee will make a recommendation to the Bowdoin College Board of Trustees. The final decision rests with the board, which holds the ultimate legal and fiduciary responsibility for the College.