YEAR IN REVIEW
James Nolan ’77, vice chair of the board of trustees, and David Lissy ’87, chair of the board of trustees, speak at a presentation for the 10th Ithaca College president March 7 in the Emerson Suites. Ash Bailot/The Ithacan
BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNOUNCES THE BEGINNING OF SEARCH FOR THE COLLEGE’S 10TH PRESIDENT
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he Ithaca College Board of Trustees announced in September that it was officially going to commence the search for the 10th president of the college. In a Sept. 17 email to the campus community, Dave Lissy ’87, chair of the board of trustees, and Jim Nolan ’77, vice chair of the board of trustees, said a search committee was formed and was to be chaired by David Fleisher ’91. Fleisher is a member of the board of trustees and was the president of the Student Governance Council (SGC) when he attended the college, former president of the Alumni Board of Directors and the parent of a Class of 2020 graduate. The search committee was made up of 15 people. The members of the committee included Fleisher; Michael J. Conover ’81, trustee; Jack Dembow ’77, trustee; junior Deontae Guy, former president of the SGC; Traci Hughes ’85, trustee; Tanya Hutchins ’89, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors; Clint McCartney, chair of the Staff Council; Chris McNamara ’81, clinical associate professor and clinic director of the Department of Physical Therapy and Faculty Council chair; Kathy Newlands ’89, trustee; Mary George Opperman, trustee; Linda Petrosino ’77, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance; Jeff Selingo ’95, trustee; Jan Singer ’86, trustee; and two additional faculty members who will be appointed by the Faculty Council. Guy resigned as SGC president in November and
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left the Presidental Search Committee. He was replaced on the committee by senior Letícia Guibanda, vice president of campus affairs for the SGC. The email said the next step was to select a search firm to consult with the committee. The search firm that the college partnered with was executive firm Isaacson, Miller. “This is an important time in our 129-year history — our challenges are many, and our opportunities even greater,” the email said. “As such, the selection of our next president will set the tone for our future and will lead the way as we continue to deliver on our mission.” The board did not announce whether the search was open or closed. The search for former president Shirley M. Collado was initially open but was later closed by the board of trustees. Collado announced she was stepping down July 8. Some members of the campus community have said they wanted the search for the 10th president to be open and called for transparency in the search. La Jerne Cornish, former provost and executive vice president, served as the interim president until she was named the 10th president at the college in March 2022. Collado stepped down effective Aug. 31 and served as senior adviser to the interim president and board of trustees until Dec. 31. The email reminded the community that the role of the search committee is to develop a leadership profile for the next president, include
feedback from the campus community, evaluate potential candidates and deliver qualified candidates to the board of trustees. Fleisher also served as the spokesperson for the committee and was tasked with sharing updates with the campus community. Members of the campus community with questions surrounding the details and logistics of the presidential search could reach out to the email presidentialsearch@ithaca.edu. Guy said he appreciated being a part of the search committee. “I’m honored to be able to be a part of the search committee that will look for Ithaca Colleges 10th president,” Guy said in a statement to The Ithacan. He said that he understood what students at the college like himself were hoping for in their new president. Guy also said that he was interested in opening up committee seats and potentially allowing other students from the college to be more closely involved in the presidential search process. “I believe students are looking for a president that really is student-focused and student-driven,” Guy said. “Students deserve to be heard, and it is my hope that students feel as though they are a part of the process. Without students, there would be no Ithaca College. I’m only in this position because of the students. Although I am the only student a part of the search committee representing the student body, I would love for at least one or two more seats to be opened to students at large. Regardless, our students will be heard.”
