Members of the Search Committee have hosted several on-campus meetings with faculty, staff and students. Trustee Robert P. Badavas ’74, who chairs the committee, indicated that the forums gathered valuable input and perspective from the community, ahead of evaluating and interviewing candidates later in the fall. 

Other outreach included an online survey that drew responses from 1,821 faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents. The themes that emerged were consistent with subjects covered at campus meetings. Key takeaways: 

• A demand for academic excellence, with Bentley continuing to focus on high ROI and the cutting-edge business learning that benefits students and alumni; 

• A hope for an inspiring executive leader with the credibility and presence to advance the university’s reputation, the ability to fundraise, and a commitment to developing talented faculty members; and 

• A desire for an innovative leader who is approachable and seeks to collaborate with students, faculty and the Board of Trustees. 

President Gloria Cordes Larson announced in June that she would step down on June 30, 2018, after 11 years at Bentley’s helm. The Search Committee will continue to meet regularly through the fall and share updates with the community throughout the process.