Office of the President

Dear Members of the Allegheny Community:

Greetings fellow Gators. As chair of Allegheny’s Board of Trustees, I thought it would be helpful after each of our board meetings to provide an update following our meetings. There’s a lot of wonderful things happening on campus and I thought you might enjoy learning more.

Most recently the Board met during Commencement Weekend, May 11–12. It was a pleasure to be on campus during such an exciting time, and I was continually impressed as I spoke with students throughout the weekend about their accomplishments at Allegheny and their plans after graduation.

We are at a time of tremendous positive momentum for our College, and I am pleased to share information on these key initiatives and events:

Allegheny Strategic Action Plan

We are energized by the progress of the implementation of the Allegheny Strategic Action Plan, which was developed by members of the Allegheny community and unanimously endorsed by the Board of Trustees at our October 2017 meeting. The plan represents a bold vision for Allegheny’s future that honors the College’s traditions and continues to strengthen our special place in American higher education. I encourage you to read President Mullen’s introduction of the plan in the spring 2018 issue of Allegheny magazine.

In addition to longer-term goals, ASAP includes several near-term campus improvement projects taking place this summer to support the student experience. These projects include technology upgrades to classrooms, renovations to the Henderson Campus Center to provide centralized space for offices in the Division of Student Life, new kitchenettes and lounge enhancements in several residence halls, and the replacement of athletic and recreation courts in the main level of the David V. Wise Sport & Fitness Center.

We look forward to continuing to share information about ASAP through updates following the Board of Trustees meetings and future issues of Allegheny magazine.

Enrollment and Allegheny Bound Summer Orientation

Allegheny’s Class of 2022 will be among the most diverse in the College’s history. We received a record number of applications this year, and we will welcome students from 363 different high schools, 33 states, and 18 different countries. This summer, the College will welcome our incoming first-year and transfer students to the community through new Allegheny Bound Summer Orientation sessions in June and July. Summer Orientation is a two-day, one-night program designed to provide resources and information that will be particularly helpful during students’ first months on campus. Both students and families are invited to attend the Orientation program. With four Allegheny Bound sessions, and more than 100 current students conducting research with faculty, the campus is bustling with activity even before students return for the fall semester.

Presidential Search

As you may know, President James H. Mullen, Jr., will retire effective June 30, 2019. We are grateful to President Mullen for his leadership and service to Allegheny — and his continued work to advance the College during the final year of his tenure. The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the entire Allegheny community, now has the responsibility of identifying, recruiting, and hiring a new president. The Board has formed a Presidential Search Committee to nominate a successor to President Mullen. The search committee is representative of the broader community of the College and will lead the recruitment process, with assistance from Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, a nationally respected higher education executive search firm. We recently launched a Presidential Search website with more information, including a list of search members and an opportunity to share input through a survey. I encourage you to participate in this survey and to continue to check the website for updates on the search.

Commencement Weekend

The Board’s time on campus concluded with the Commencement ceremony on Saturday, when we celebrated more than 380 graduates in the Class of 2018. Heavy rain pounded on the Wise Center roof as the ceremony began — but based on the applause and cheers I heard as students walked across the stage and received their diplomas, the enthusiasm of graduates and their families certainly was not dampened by the weather.

In my remarks to the graduating class, I challenged Allegheny’s newest alumni to think not only about how they will use their liberal arts education as they begin their careers or graduate school, but also to consider this question: “Who will you help?” I am very grateful for the Allegheny community members — alumni, faculty, staff, my fellow trustees, and others — who are setting such a positive example of helping others for our students. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our College.

Sincerely,

Mark Campbell ’82
Chair, Board of Trustees