In response to President Greg Warden’s announcement in March 2021 to retire from his position as president of Franklin University Switzerland at the end of the 2021-22 academic year, the Board of Trustees has initiated a search process to ensure the successful recruitment of a leader who will articulate and advance the vision for Franklin's future. This process will be guided by a Presidential Search Committee, in partnership with an executive search firm with expertise in higher education, which will be requiring important input from across the Franklin community.

The Co-Chairs of the Presidential Search Committee will be updating the Franklin community on the formation of the search committee and the selection of the search firm, plus providing information about the steps which are taken to identify Franklin’s next President, including the community's participation in that same effort. While much of their work will remain confidential throughout the search to ensure the attraction of the very best candidates, regular updates as appropriate will be provided.

The Presidential Search Committee includes a group of dedicated Franklin trustees, alumni, faculty, and staff, who bring diversity of experience, expertise, and opinion to guide this critical effort. Franklin is pleased to announce that the following members of our community have agreed to serve on this committee:

  • *Co-Chairs – Kim Hildebrant;
  • *Co-Chairs – Cabell West;
  • Johanna Fassl (Professor at Franklin);
  • Anne Marie Judge (Vice President of Advancement at Franklin);
  • *Paul Lowerre (Former Chairman of Franklin Board and former parent);
  • *Kevin McNeely (current parent);
  • Jeffrey Reimer (Professor at UC Berkeley and former parent).

*denotes an alum

As the result of a competitive process, the strategic partner in the search process will be the Swiss-based global search firm, Dr. Thomas A. Biland Executive Search, in affiliation with Lindauer Global – link to the search here – a United States-based search firm with expertise in higher education. The team will be directly co-led by Thomas Biland, and from Lindauer Global, Paula Fazli and Deb Taft.

The process has begun with a careful assessment of Franklin’s distinctive character and the opportunities and challenges that the institution faces. As part of this assessment, the search consultants, Thomas Biland and Paula Fazli, have had the opportunity to visit campus in the past weeks and engage with members of the Franklin community, to voice their views on the main characteristics the next Franklin University Switzerland President should possess.

The Presidential Search Committee welcomes thoughts and suggestions throughout the search process. The Franklin community's advice on Franklin’s distinctive character, the goals that should be set as an institution for the next five years, the challenges to overcome, and the opportunities ahead would be most helpful. Nominations of potential candidates would also be appreciated, by sending an email directly to the search firm at FUSPresident@ThomasBiland.ch.

Thank you for your support and help in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

Cabell West, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees

&

Kim Hildebrant, Chairman of the Board of Trustees