Walla Walla University Begins Search Process for New President
23 January 2024 |
Walla Walla University has initiated the process to appoint its 24th president, with current president John McVay set to retire at the conclusion of the 2023–2024 academic year. The university’s board of trustees has established a 13-member presidential search committee to spearhead this significant task, according to a recent article on the Northwest Adventists website.
This diverse committee, representing the university’s major stakeholders, includes faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and administrators from the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (NPUC). The composition of the committee reflects the university’s commitment to inclusivity and comprehensive representation: six members are alumni, five are current employees, seven are trustees, and one is a student.
Faith Search Partners, a renowned executive search firm with extensive experience in Adventist institutions, will support the committee. The firm’s role includes identifying candidates, gathering information, and aiding in the selection process.
Freedman emphasized the structured and formal nature of the search, expecting a collaborative effort from the committee, the board of trustees, and various university leaders. The process aims to be comprehensive and thoughtful, matching the best candidate to WWU’s leadership needs. He anticipates the search’s completion by May 2024.
The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 23. Regular updates on the search process will be available at wallawalla.edu/president.
Freedman also called for the community’s prayers and support: “Your prayers are not only welcomed, but cherished, as we seek divine guidance in making decisions that will shape the future of our university. Together, let us uplift this process, asking for wisdom, discernment, and the alignment of God’s will with our actions.”
