Embarking on the Next 50 Years
Overview
The Naropa Board of Trustees has announced the launch of a formal search for a new president, with a transition expected in spring or summer of 2025. The Board is committed to a fully inclusive process and will be engaging with the entire Naropa community in a variety of venues. The search committee has been selected and is working closely with the Board and our search consultant.
The mission of the search committee, with input from the wider campus community, is to support the search, evaluate candidates, and deliver a set of finalists to the Board of Trustees.
Vision for the Search
Our vision for the search is that the Board and search committee will embody Naropa’s values and act in accordance with Naropa’s View of Right Action. We believe that a conscious and inclusive process will help us find a president who will be an inspiring leader, team builder, and someone who can support and advance our mission.
We encourage you to think creatively about what sort of leadership Naropa University will need as it embarks on the next 50 (or 500!) years of emergence.
Senior Executive Search Consultant
Richard A. Wueste, J.D.
AGB Search
1666 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
540-431-5131 (home office)
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Search Committee
- Manasa Ashok, Student, MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Suzanne Benally, Co-Chair, Board of Trustees
- Jessica Brejc Ibrahim, Staff, Director, Student Financial Services
- Joe Cassidy, Board of Trustees
- Doug Dupler, Adjunct Faculty Partner
- Lorenzo Gonzalez, Faculty Trustee
- Mica Graves, Faculty, Director, Nature-Based Transpersonal Counseling
- Marty Janowitz, Board of Trustees
- Ramon Parish, Core Associate Professor; Chair, Interdisciplinary Studies
- Jeffrey Pethybridge, Senior Staff, Chief Academic Officer
- Regina Smith, Senior Staff, Chief of Staff & Vice President of MCIC
- Mark Wilding, Co-Chair, Board of Trustees
Dear Naropa Community,
We are reaching out to update you on the presidential search process.
As you know, the search was open for applicants through February 21. Once the application period closed, the search committee members reviewed all of the applicants; and, in process with our AGB search consultant, Richard Wueste, choose a group of semifinalists. These semifinalist were invited to interview with the committee on March 10 and 11. Following two full days of interviews, the committee deliberated and chose a short list of finalists. We will be sharing more about the finalists soon, once we have completed the confirmation steps.
Each of the finalists will be invited to campus for separate, multi-day interviews during the week of April 21–25. These interviews will include individual and group sessions, in-person and online and hybrid, with students, staff, faculty, trustees, and community members invited. We will share more about the details once those are finalized – but, for now, please note these dates and plan to attend as you are able.
We want to express our deep appreciation to the search committee for all of their time, effort, and commitment to this process.
Thank you,
Kendra Sandoval and Mark Wilding
FAQs Related to the Presidential Search
Who is AGB?
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is the premier organization focused on empowering college, university, and foundation boards to govern with knowledge and confidence. Governing boards in higher education must focus now more than ever on strategic leadership of their institutions and foundations to ensure institutional vitality and student success. It is critical that they reinforce the value of higher education, innovate through the effective use of technology, and serve the needs of a shifting demographic. AGB provides leadership and counsel to member boards, chief executives, organizational staff, policymakers, and other key industry leaders to help them navigate the changing education landscape. Learn more about AGB.
What is our search consultant's background?
Dr. Wueste has served as president of Adams State University, an HSI; Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Heritage University, an independent college and HSI; Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services, and Treasurer of an auxiliary services corporation at SUNY-Stony Brook, a major research university; and administrator for university services and human resources at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an urban research university. Read more about Dr. Wueste.
When will the new president start?
We expect to conduct interviews in the winter of 2025 and to bring finalists to campus to meet our community in the spring. Ideally, the new President would start in summer 2025.
What if there's an internal candidate, how will they be assessed?
How do I learn more and apply?
The application deadline has passed.
What is the salary range and benefits for this position?
The salary range for this position is anticipated to be between $250,000 and $325,000.
In addition to a rich intellectual and experiential work environment, Naropa provides a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week – with other options available to those who work less than 30 hours per week. The health and welfare benefits include medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short and long-term disability, employer-paid life and ADD insurance, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, and additional voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.
All regular full-time and part-time accrue sick leave, vacation, and personal time benefits. Leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.
Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break – 4th Thursday and Friday in November ; and Winter Break.
Naropa provides generous tuition remission opportunities for employees and their family members, and participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange
Questions?
Questions? Please direct any questions to presidentialsearch@naropa.edu.
