Update to the campus community: Presidential Search – April 26, 2022
I am writing to provide an update on the work that has been undertaken as part of the search for our next President.
Recently, the Presidential Search Committee short-listed three candidates to be interviewed by the broader Mount community. This broader representative consultation followed the procedures to guide confidential searches for senior administrative positions.
The supplemental interviews were held over the weekend of April 2nd on campus. Once those interviews were complete, and the supplemental interview groups provided feedback, the Presidential Search Committee met to review and discuss the feedback, in the context of the search and related information.
All three candidates expressed gratitude for the commitment of the Mount community for participating in these interviews. On behalf of the committee, thank you to each participant for representing the Mount and ensuring that the tough questions were asked.
The process is continuing, with a focus on one of the candidates, and I anticipate being able to provide a further update in the near future.
My sincere gratitude to the members of Presidential Search Committee. Their commitment to the Mount is clear, as is their dedication to finding the Mount’s next President who will fully embrace the University’s mission and strategic plan.
As always you can contact me (board.chair@msvu.ca) or our search firm (jane@griffithgroup.ca) with any suggestions or questions.
Thank you
Amanda Dean
Chair, Board of Governors and Presidential Search Committee
Mount Saint Vincent University
Presidential Search – Interim Leadership (March 15, 2022)
I am following up on my recent message about the work and progress of the Presidential Search Committee. While the search to find our next President and Vice-Chancellor is underway, our initial timeline has been protracted, and I want to update you on plans for leadership during this period.
We have been fortunate to benefit from the interim leadership of President Lumpkin for the past several months. She had committed to working with us until the first of May, when she will be attending to previously booked plans. However, the Mount will not be left without steady leadership. I am pleased to let you know that Dr. Sheila A. Brown will be returning to MSVU to as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor effective May 2, 2022. (see attached PDF for more information about Dr. Brown)
Dr. Brown was named President Emerita in 2012, an honour bestowed upon presidents who rendered exceptionally distinguished service to the University, having served as President for 10 years (1996 to 2006). Since that time, she has remained engaged in the post-secondary sector, and is looking forward to contributing as our search continues. She will work closely with Ramona to transition responsibilities and ensure there is continuity of leadership.
The next step for the committee is to have representatives of MSVU community groups meet with the short list of candidates as per the procedures guide. I will update you further on the work of the committee and this consultation as we progress.
As always you can contact me (board.chair@msvu.ca) with any questions.
Thank you
Amanda Dean
Chair, Board of Governors and Presidential Search Committee
Mount Saint Vincent University
Update to the campus community: Presidential Search – March 8, 2022
I am writing to provide you with an update on the work of the Presidential Search Committee.
The pandemic continues to have unexpected impacts on employment searches across all industries, sectors and universities. In addition, this search is one of several taking place across the post-secondary sector. Not unlike anything within our lives over the past two years, our initial timeline has been protracted as we continue to forge ahead. Our goal remains the same: to find the person who will lead us into the future while fully embracing our mission and strategic plan.
I am pleased to let you know that the committee has identified a short list of candidates and, as our next step, we are moving to the interview stage that will include a broader representative consultation engaging other members of the MSVU community.
The procedures to guide confidential searches for senior administrative positions outlines the process followed by the committee. Candidates were informed of the high value placed by the campus community on the opportunity to hold open meetings with the finalists. The process also outlines that broader consultation can take place, while ensuring that candidates do not jeopardize their relationship with their employers and the stakeholders with whom they work.
In the next couple of weeks, representatives of MSVU community groups will meet with the candidates, on a confidential basis, and will provide their critical feedback to the committee. Members of the committee will be reaching out soon based on the process. These supplemental interviews are crucial in this search.
I also want to make you aware that one member of the Presidential Search Committee has resigned. Given the advanced place that we are in the process, we will work quickly to have their replacement on the committee brought up to speed.
I want to thank the committee members for their time, focus and commitment to finding MSVU’s next leader and will update you as this work advances. In the meantime, we continue to welcome any insight, suggestions and comments.
As always you can contact me (board.chair@msvu.ca) or our search firm (jane@griffithgroup.ca) with any suggestions or questions.
Thank you
Amanda Dean
Chair, Board of Governors and Presidential Search Committee
Mount Saint Vincent University
Presidential Search Update – January 6, 2022
Message to the MSVU Community,
I want to begin by wishing you a Happy New Year and the best of health for 2022. I also want to provide you with an update on the most recent activities of the Presidential Search Committee.
Since I last wrote, the committee received unconscious bias training, jointly led by MSVU’s Advisor, EDIA, Delvina Bernard, and our search firm Griffith Group. The committee members are grateful for the session and are applying this knowledge to support a process that is fair and equitable.
The committee met in December to review the progress on the search. This remains an active search and the Griffith Group continues to work on this position. Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to send names along for consideration in the search for our next President and Vice-Chancellor. I would ask that you continue to send us the names of potential candidates. All nominations can be forwarded to Jane Griffith (jane@griffithgroup.ca). Alternatively, please feel free to contact me via board.chair@msvu.ca.
The committee work process remains on track, reviewing those applications already received and coming together again soon to review additional potential candidates. We are in a good position with respect to process and timing. Please continue to reference this page for the job advertisement, and other key pieces of information in reference to this search. I remain committed to keeping you informed as we progress.
Regards,
Amanda Dean
Chair of Board of Governors and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee
Presidential Search Update – October 22, 2021
Message to the MSVU Community
I am writing on behalf of the Presidential Search Committee with an update on the search for MSVU’s next President and Vice -Chancellor.
The Committee recently met, and I am pleased to inform you that the search process is well underway, and we are on track to meet the targeted timelines.
Working with Griffith Group, the firm supporting the search, and with input from the MSVU community and other stakeholders, a detailed candidate brief has been created and is being shared with candidates.
There has been significant interest in the position, and I’m pleased to report that we have a robust list of applicants already. That said, we want to continue to encourage additional submissions for the role; individuals interested in the position can contact Jane Griffith (jane@griffithgroup.ca) of Griffith Group directly or members of the MSVU community can send her their nominations.
Also, while the survey to inform the candidate profile and advertisement is no longer in place, you can contact Jane at any time with input. Alternatively, you can also contact me via board.chair@msvu.ca. A sincere thank you to those of you who took the time to respond to the survey, or to attend one of the stakeholder meetings hosted by committee members. Your input in this process is incredibly valuable.
The search committee will meet again in November for equity, diversity, and inclusion training with a focus on unconscious bias training. In December, we will meet to review a long list of candidates. This is in preparation to hold interviews with a short list of candidates in the new year.
We recognize that many members of the community are interested to learn more about the status of the search and are looking to committee members for updates. We will continue to provide as much information as possible while recognizing that, as in any search of this kind and at this stage in the process, some details (including details about candidates) must be kept confidential.
I am committed to continuing to provide you with timely updates as we move through the stages of the presidential search. Let me know if you have any questions as this important work is undertaken by the committee.
Regards,
Amanda Dean
Chair of Board of Governors and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee
board.chair@msvu.ca
Presidential Search Update – September 9, 2021
To the MSVU Community,
I am writing to provide an update on the work of the Presidential Search Committee, in collaboration with Griffith Group, the firm that was chosen to support the search.
The committee recently met to review the input received as a result of their outreach to their respective groups. Thank you to all who participated in a discussion or responded to a survey.
The input from all groups including faculty, staff, students, Board members, alumni, donors and supporters is invaluable to the process to select a new President for the University. In fact, your input has been incorporated into the advertisement that is attached, and is being posted across a number of outlets including our website.
For those who were not able to participate there is still opportunity to do so. Please find a link to a shortened version of the survey. The survey remains confidential and anonymous. The more input that we receive, the more we know that our next President and Vice-Chancellor will accurately represent the MSVU community.
If you have nominations for the role of President and Vice-Chancellor these can be forwarded throughout the duration of the search to jane@griffithgroup.ca. Please continue to check the website for updates as we move along.
If you have any question about the process, please do not hesitate to contact me via board.chair@msvu.ca.
Regards,
Amanda Dean
Chair of Board of Governors and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee
Search for the next President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Saint Vincent University – July 29, 2021
MSVU is beginning the search for the next President and Vice-Chancellor. Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, CM, is currently the Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. She is a respected leader and university administrator and served as President and Vice-Chancellor for seven years before retiring in 2017. It is with a great deal of gratitude that we acknowledge Ramona’s leadership through our period of transition.
As Chair of the Board of Governors and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee I am writing to update you on the work that is taking place to support the search for a new president. The process includes opportunities for input from a wide range of representatives from MSVU and the establishment of a Presidential Search Committee, representing all constituencies of the university community including faculty, staff, students and alumni.
The university has also engaged the services of a search firm to create and lead a search plan and support the committee in identifying viable candidates. The firm, Griffith Group, was selected through a competitive bidding process through a review of proposals, and presentations to the Committee from short-listed contenders. Founded by Jane Griffith, the search firm has experience providing search services to academic, public sector, and not-for-profit organizations across Canada and are committed to supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The search committee has held some initial meetings and are now focused on reaching out to their constituency groups with an invitation to participate in an information-seeking session. Should the timing of the session be problematic, there will also be an opportunity to complete an online survey. The survey will be anonymous and all members of the MSVU and broader community are encouraged to provide their input. Your thoughtful responses and input will be critical to ensuring the Search Committee has a clear vision of what we need to look for in the next President and Vice-Chancellor, to ensure their qualities will reinforce an ability to deliver our Strategic Plan. If you are not contacted by one of the search committee members but want to provide your input please contact Jane Griffith at jane@griffithgroup.ca and she will follow up with you.
The committee will review the aggregated information and use it as a guide in the search process. The search firm and committee will then create an overview of the role and issue an invitation for applications, nominations and expressions of interest for the position of President and Vice-Chancellor. In the meantime a general role description (PDF) has been created for the position.
If you have nominations for the role of President and Vice-Chancellor these can be forwarded throughout the duration of the search to jane@griffithgroup.ca.
When reading through the Presidential Search web page, you will find information on the steps and timing (PDF) that will take place in the Committee’s search process. Additionally, the Terms of Reference (PDF) and the Procedures to Guide Confidential Searches for Senior Admin Positions (PDF) have been added. These documents are guiding the work of the Committee.
We expect to announce the appointment of the new President and Vice-Chancellor in the Spring of 2022.
Feedback will be sought throughout this process and if you have any questions about the process, please do not hesitate to contact me via board.chair@msvu.ca.
I look forward to keeping you updated as the search process progresses.
Amanda Dean
Chair of Board of Governors and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee
Dr. Dickinson (biography attached) demonstrates a strong commitment to the mission, vision and values of MSVU, and to our purpose of fostering the education of women and other engaged thinkers, while committing to social justice and to an equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible community. As President, she will lead us through our next chapter while ensuring our continued focus on that core purpose. She is excited by our strategic plan for its clarity of direction and ambition, and for its emphasis on putting people above all else.