On behalf of the president and dean search committee, I would like to offer an update on our progress in the search.
In light of Jim Hilbert’s transition to the interim president and dean role, he has stepped off of the search committee. I am pleased to share that Tressa Ries, vice president of finance and administration, has joined in his place. We welcome Tressa and are grateful to her for her commitment to the process.
We would like to thank all of you who participated in recent conversations with our consultants, Julie Tea and Anne Koellhoffer of Storbeck Search, and to those of you who also completed the constituent survey. In total, we held approximately 25 one-hour listening sessions across the law school’s various constituencies (faculty, staff, the administration, the board, students, and alumni) and had nearly 170 responses to the survey. Your thoughtful comments provided the basis for the creation of the search profile, a valuable tool that will be used to solicit nominations and recruit candidates nationally. We invite you to review the finalized copy which is available on the School’s website and on the Storbeck Search website.
As you review the search profile, please pay particular attention to the attributes most highly desired in our new president and dean. we urge you to suggest people you know who could serve effectively in this critically important position, or those you think might know of potential candidates. Please forward their names to Julie Tea and Anne Koellhoffer at MHSLDean@storbecksearch.com.
Our committee is well aware that the success of our search depends on the involvement of all members of the Mitchell Hamline community. Please rest assured that names and information will be treated with full confidentiality.
Over the next several weeks, we will seek to generate a talented and diverse national candidate pool through nominations received from you and others, inquiries at other institutions similar to Mitchell Hamline in scope and mission, advertising in The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed and on a number of other relevant websites, outreach to law-related associations and affinity and under-represented groups, and the work of our search firm. In early November the search committee will begin to narrow the candidate pool.
The search is off to a good start. I will write to you again as we enter subsequent stages of the process.
Thank you for your support