PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
The Board of Trustees of Mount Mercy University invites nominations and applications for the position of president.
AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mount Mercy University seeks an accomplished leader who is also an effective and selfless team player. The new president will possess the experience, skills, and drive required to shape the future of this innovative and forward-looking institution, while exemplifying the character and ethics expected in a highly visible and trusted university and community leader.
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UNIVERSITY HISTORY
In response to the community demand for online degree options and the evolving landscape of higher education, Mount Mercy launched its first-ever online program in the fall of 2013. Since
Housed on a hilltop in the historic Mound View neighborhood in
then, its online offerings have grown to encompass 10 bachelor’s
the heart of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University has evolved
degree programs and one master’s degree program.
into a vibrant intellectual community of the 21st century— providing a range of educational experiences and opportunities tailored to meet the needs of our time.
As Mount Mercy’s graduate programs grew quickly, so did the need for more space. Located just a mile and a half from the main campus, the CRST International Graduate Center opened in 2013
More than 90 years ago, the Sisters of Mercy of Cedar Rapids
and is home to nearly 400 students across five master’s-level
saw the need to unite people with opportunity through education.
programs and two doctoral programs, which were launched in
Their vision—to blend faith and values with liberal arts learning
2018. Housed within the Graduate Center is the Olson Marriage
and professional preparation—is the hallmark of a Mercy education
& Family Therapy Clinic—offering high-quality, low-cost counseling
and the foundation of Mount Mercy’s success.
services to the local community, while providing hands-on,
The history of Mount Mercy’s academic excellence and compassionate service dates back to 1928 when the Sisters of Mercy established Mount Mercy Junior College, a two-year college
supervised training for students in the Marriage & Family Therapy graduate program (the only practice-based, accredited program in Iowa).
for women. The junior college flourished and transitioned to a
While constantly growing and adapting, Mount Mercy has
four-year college in 1960, granting bachelor’s degrees and
remained the regional Catholic, Mercy university that promises
eventually becoming co-ed in 1969. As time passed, Mount
students of diverse backgrounds, ages, and faiths a challenging
Mercy added new programs that continued to reflect its original
and practical education that inspires them to discover
mission and values.
knowledge, build community, and lead courageous lives.
Building on its reputation for high-quality, student-focused
Traditional residential and transfer students find majors that ignite
undergraduate education—and carrying forth its mission to meet
their passions—on a vibrant, welcoming, and safe campus that
the needs of its time—Mount Mercy launched its first master’s
offers rich co-curricular activities and experiences. Working
degree programs in 2008. The addition of graduate programs
adults, striving to balance careers and families, find undergraduate
and a new core curriculum, coupled with community-focused
and graduate programs (on campus and online) that fit their busy
programming, positioned the institution for designation as a
lives and schedules, in competitive fields that drive their
university in 2010.
careers forward.
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OUR MISSION Mount Mercy is a Catholic university that provides student-focused education in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy and welcomes people of all beliefs to join our community in pursuit of undergraduate and graduate education and compassionate service to those in need. We strive for excellence in accomplishing our mission through four interdependent goals: using reflective judgment, engaging in strategic communication, serving the common good, and promoting purposeful living.
OUR VALUES
OUR CATHOLIC IDENTITY & MERCY CHARISM Mount Mercy’s foundation, built on the principles of Catholic
As members of the Mount Mercy University community, grounded
social teaching and the Sisters of Mercy’s five critical concerns,
in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy and our Catholic identity,
guides students in exploring an education that reaches far
we are committed to:
beyond the classroom. Students of all faiths are encouraged
• Lifelong learning and education of the whole person • Pursuit of truth and dignity
to join our faith-based community, leading to intellectual development, self-reflection, and spiritual growth.
• Commitment to students
The university strives to be a community that demonstrates
• Justice
the highest standards of the Catholic intellectual tradition,
• Gratitude
welcoming all people to explore and promote our core values.
• Hospitality • Service
Pursuit of truth and integration of knowledge for the common good are key in Mount Mercy’s classrooms. Through service learning and volunteer opportunities, students are challenged to take what they learned in the classroom and apply the critical concerns in a wide array of volunteer projects. Students are also encouraged to demonstrate core values in their personal lives. Mount Mercy is sponsored by the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, through the Conference for Mercy Higher Education. As a Mercy institution, we carry out our charge to continue the Catholic intellectual tradition. As such, we respectfully abide by the Conference for Mercy Higher Education’s statement on Catholic Identity and Mercy charism. MMU | Presidential Leadership Opportunity | 3
UNIVERSITY SNAPSHOT WHO WE ARE • • • •
Private, Catholic liberal arts university founded in 1928 Co-ed, residential campus with 1,700+ students Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (pop. 130,000) Undergraduate and graduate education with 85+ areas of study • Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy through the Conference for Mercy Higher Education
ENROLLMENT • • • •
1,705 (Fall 2020) 69% female, 31% male 15.8% student body diversity (including international students) 60+ international students from 30+ countries
STUDENT EXPERIENCE • • • •
A RECOGNIZED LEADER • Designated a College of Distinction, with special recognition in nursing, business, and education • Ranked #25 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, #33 in Best Colleges for Veterans, and #50 in Best Value Schools by U.S. News & World Report • Nationally-ranked student Enactus team—using entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world • Award-winning volunteerism and service learning programs
100% of first-year students receive scholarships Student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1 Classes taught by faculty, not TAs Strong academic assistance, internship, research, and career development programs • 64% of seniors participated in internships or other career-related experiences before graduation • 42% of traditional undergraduates are student-athletes
FACULTY • 84 faculty members (including tenured, tenure-track, non-tenured track, and special appointments) • 58% of faculty hold a terminal degree in their fields • Fulbright Fellowship winners
ALUMNI • 97% of alumni are employed or start graduate school within nine months of graduation • An alumni network 16,000+ strong with more than half in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor
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ACADEMICS More than 85 areas of study are organized into eight academic departments—serving traditional residential, transfer, and working adult students: Business Communication, Literature & Arts Education History, Politics & Justice Natural & Applied Sciences Nursing Philosophy & Religious Studies Psychology, Sociology, Social Work & International Studies
IN-DEMAND GRADUATE PROGRAMS Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Master of Strategic Leadership (MSL) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage & Family Therapy (PhD-MFT)
ONLINE PROGRAMS Applied Management Business Health Care Administration Health Care Leadership Human Resource Management Liberal Studies Management Marketing Master of Business Administration (MBA) RN-BSN Religious Studies
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STUDENT & CAMPUS LIFE At Mount Mercy, students of all ages and interests come together to create an active, welcoming campus community bound together by a heartfelt commitment to succeed in the classroom, build rewarding lives and prosperous careers, and truly make a difference in the world.
ATHLETICS Mount Mercy offers 18 intercollegiate sports within the Heart of America Athletic Conference through the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). More than one-third of the university’s traditional undergraduate population are student-athletes. Opened in 2017, the $16 million Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex provides a permanent home field for six of the university’s outdoor sports. Just across the street from the Athletic Complex sits the Rinderknecht Athletic Center, a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. Opened in 2019, the Athletic Center houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/ weight equipment, a dynamic movement area for yoga, and the dugout—a place for all students to gather, study, or watch film.
MUSIC Co-curricular music involvement has increased from 24 students in 2010 to more than 150 students today. Vocal ensembles include choir, show choir, and jazz choir. Instrumental ensembles include band, jazz band, and pep band.
FAST FACTS • 25+ registered student organizations • Persistence rate of 79.7% • Tutoring, writing, counseling, and study skills assistance • Research opportunities, annual Scholarship Festival, and Honors Program
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CEDAR RAPIDS ALSO OFFERS:
ABOUT CEDAR RAPIDS & THE CREATIVE CORRIDOR As Iowa’s second-largest city—with a population of 130,000— Cedar Rapids is a growing, progressive, and friendly community along the picturesque Cedar River. Its location in Eastern
• An ever-growing shopping scene, fabulous restaurants, award-winning wineries and breweries, and endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts • Professional and semi-professional sports—baseball, arena football, hockey, and soccer • A hub for arts and culture—Paramount Theatre, Theatre
Iowa is home to the University of Iowa, the state’s flagship
Cedar Rapids, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre,
comprehensive research university, as well as the state’s
Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Cedar Rapids Museum
largest community college and several private colleges. Cedar
of Art, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library,
Rapids is positioned conveniently and centrally between six of
African-American Museum of Iowa, Mother Mosque of
the Midwest’s major metropolitan areas: Chicago, Kansas City,
America, the popular Czech Village and NewBo areas, and
Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha, and St. Louis.
Brucemore (Iowa’s only National Trust historic site)
Cedar Rapids anchors Iowa’s Creative Corridor—a strategic, seven-county alliance dedicated to economic progress, workforce development, and fostering a culture of innovation.
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BEST PLACE IN AMERICA TO RAISE A CHILD SmartAsset, 2017, 2016, 2015
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• Low unemployment and dynamic education, health care, and social services sectors • A home to many Fortune 500 companies including Collins Aerospace, Transamerica/AEGON, General Mills, Cargill, Quaker Oats, Archer Daniels Midland, Nordstrom, and hundreds of manufacturing firms and businesses
BES T S TATE U.S. News & World Report, 2018
To learn more about Cedar Rapids, visit tourismcedarrapids.com
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POSITION PROFILE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
The Board of Trustees has established the following six
The world of higher education is rapidly changing. Mount Mercy
expectations for the next president: 1. Explore experiences and opportunities to further Mount
ADDRESS CHALLENGES TO TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PRACTICE
students expect more coursework to be online or taught in hybrid form. Adult learners seek collegiate-level learning, but
Mercy University’s mission and values consistent with
aren’t necessarily pursuing a degree. Employers are pressuring
our Catholic Identity and Mercy charism while promoting
universities to produce graduates who are job ready, increasing
acceptance, diversity, and inclusion.
the need for and value of internships and other forms of
2. Focus on the enhancement of revenue sources to create
experiential learning.
long-term financial sustainability. Maximize the potential
The next president must be prepared to coordinate a complex,
of existing effective programs (nursing and business)
multifaceted academic operation where change is the norm rather
to develop a business model for a more diverse set of
than the exception. The president will encourage the faculty to
financially viable programs.
embrace new technologies and pedagogies as needed to improve
3. Take the lead in increasing the fundraising capacity of the university by becoming a significant influencer in the greater community, developing productive relationships with donors, and securing donations. 4. Develop a 360-degree plan to address the technology
student learning and prepare the next generation of leaders. The next president must be prepared to determine the extent to which Mount Mercy will court graduate students and adult learners. Online education, especially, is evolving rapidly and the competition for students is becoming more intense. In order
needs of all constituents to position Mount Mercy to
to be a serious player in this arena, Mount Mercy will need to
compete for faculty and students and effectively manage
establish a competitive niche and move beyond a zero-sum
university functions.
game, drawing new students from outside the pool of currently
5. As learner and teacher behaviors change with the evolution
expected candidates.
of technology, ensure that a sense of community is created
The next president will possess a true affinity for academe, an
and leveraged to carry out the Mercy mission.
appreciation for Catholic higher education, and the roles that
6. Preserve and enhance the quality of existing academic programs with an emphasis on the liberal arts foundation. Promote the development of high quality, financially viable in-person, online, and hybrid programs.
teaching and research play in achieving student success. He/ she will understand what students seek from their educational experience and use that knowledge as a touchstone in implementing Mount Mercy’s mission and values.
Candidates for the position should consider these expectations
To accomplish this, the next president must be prepared to earn
to be the guiding light for their presidency.
and maintain the respect of a talented and innovative faculty with high expectations for its leadership.
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POSITION PROFILE FACILITATES AND ENGAGES CONVERSATIONS TO PROBE OUR IDENTITY AS A CATHOLIC MERCY INSTITUTION
STRENGTHEN AND DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS
The next president will highlight and support our Catholic
with businesses, medical centers, social service agencies,
Identity and Mercy charism by supporting and exemplifying
educational partners, and units of local and regional government
the university’s mission and values. Opportunities to
as key elements of its success. The next president will have the
integrate our growth and understanding and to engage the
opportunity not only to strengthen existing partnerships, but
campus community at large are critical and formative. He/
also to identify and develop new and expanded partnerships. A
she will accomplish this by facilitating open and participative
new president will be as prepared to work outside the academy
conversations to explore these—built within an inclusive,
as within its confines to develop a vision and execute a plan for
welcoming community that exhibits trust, openness, diverse
increased and significantly strengthened partnerships.
Mount Mercy has always relied on strategic partnerships
viewpoints, and respect.
TEND TO FINANCES Independent colleges and universities, especially those whose budgets are tuition driven, are aware that enrollment can dramatically change the institution’s budget outlook. The next president must be conversant with contemporary enrollment strategies and marketing approaches and be able to optimize the dynamic range of students and educational delivery systems to best propel Mount Mercy into the future. This will include an assessment of the facility and infrastructure needs required
PROMOTE THE MISSION AND INSTITUTIONAL REPUTATION The president of Mount Mercy University serves as both an institutional leader and a community leader and spokesperson. He/she will be expected to promote the university’s visibility and reputation by demonstrating strong leadership and personal integrity. The next president will actively seek opportunities to increase awareness of the university and will effectively convey the university’s unique academic mission, strengths, and values to all constituents.
to meet the changing student dynamics. The next president
The next president must be an effective representative of the
will inherit a university that is financially stable, supported by a
university, exemplifying strong workplace and personal ethics
Board that is committed to, and working toward, Mount Mercy’s
and moral character.
continued success. That said, he/she must be prepared to
QUALIFICATIONS & QUALITIES
function, with the senior leadership team, as a vigilant steward with a mastery of university finance.
EXPAND THE FUNDRAISING CAPACITY OF THE UNIVERSITY The Board of Trustees expects Mount Mercy to improve its financial position as it moves into the future. With 15,000+ connected alumni—7,500 of which reside in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor—and a record of hiring Mount Mercy graduates, the city of Cedar Rapids and Mount Mercy have a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship. Cedar Rapids includes among its residents many with the capacity to give and a record of generosity. The next president will find a community
The next president will be a practicing Catholic or a nonCatholic Christian who is engaged in their faith. He/she should be committed to understanding and appreciating the Catholic tradition, especially within higher education. This, coupled with the integration of the Mercy charism, are foundational pillars of Mount Mercy University and primary to this position. He/she will possess a terminal degree and present a record of success as a leader in a higher education setting. Successful experience in managing change, community relations, and fundraising is highly desired.
ready to hear Mount Mercy’s story anew. The president will demonstrate an affinity for identifying donors capable of making transformative gifts and closing gift commitments by communicating a passionate vision for the university that inspires them. He/she will take ownership of fundraising goals, strategies, and tactics.
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POSITION PROFILE In addition, the following qualities are desired:
LEADERSHIP • Direct experience fostering a learning environment in which academic rigor leads to successful learning outcomes. • A collaborative leadership style, demonstrated through the ability to function as a team builder and a team player. • The style and experience of a planner and a doer. Someone who takes pride in assembling the right team, setting clear, measurable goals, and achieving success. • The ability to champion and lead “smart” growth of an organization that works with a small margin for error. • Experience building and motivating—the capacity to inspire. • Capacity for strategic thinking and innovation. • Ability to drive consensus but also be decisive when appropriate.
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING • The ability to build trust and respect across multiple constituencies (students, parents, alumni, faculty, administration, trustees, community, and strategic partners). • The ability to develop and nurture partnerships with external leaders and organizations.
BUSINESS ACUMEN • Experience operating a complex educational organization. • Experience in assisting data driven decision-making. • Experience managing budgets and financials. • Experience successfully managing human resource issues in higher education. • Experience with marketing and enrollment management functions in a highly competitive education marketplace. • Strategic planning experience at an academic institution. • Mastery of marshalling resources, organizational structure, and other human capital strategies.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS • The ability to comfortably interact with faculty, staff, and students in a variety of settings, respectfully and appropriately engaging in the processes of teaching and learning. • Strong interpersonal skills. • A genuine desire to leave one’s office and engage people where they are. • Effective verbal and written communication skills. • The ability to listen carefully to a wide range of constituents.
FUNDRAISING • A genuine interest in all aspects of fundraising.
• The ability to adjust style to communicate effectively to a wide variety of audiences.
• The ability to enthusiastically influence various donor constituencies. • Energy to convey the Mount Mercy vision to inspire transformative gifts.
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POSITION PROFILE PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS • A genuine affinity for the academic process and an appreciation of the work of scholars and teachers. • A genuine affinity for the student experience.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS The Mount Mercy University Presidential Search Committee will begin reviewing and evaluating applications as they are received and will continue to accept and review credentials until
• An international outlook and global perspective.
a new president is selected. To ensure fullest consideration,
• The highest ethical and moral standards in both
candidates are advised to submit their materials by
professional and personal life. • Perseverance, work ethic, and drive to build a legacy of success at Mount Mercy University. • Intellect—as evidenced by a terminal degree—curiosity and open-mindedness. • Eagerness and stamina to serve 24/7 as an institutional advocate and spokesperson. • Humility and a sense of humor.
March 15, 2021. Monica Burton, Melissa Trotta, and Quincy Washington, of AGB Search, are assisting with this search. Nominators and prospective candidates may contact them at: • monica.burton@agbsearch.com or (917) 825-2961 • melissa.trotta@agbsearch.com or (202) 380-8927 • quincy.washington@agbsearch.com or (443) 866-3223 Applications should be submitted electronically in Word or PDF format to: MMUPresident21@agbsearch.com Materials must include: • Letter of interest that directly links the candidate’s CV to the Expectations for the Next President, Opportunities & Challenges and Qualifications & Qualities sections of this profile. • Complete CV or resume. • Names and contact information (telephone and e-mail) for five references, none of whom will be contacted until a later stage of the search or without the formal permission of the candidate. All inquiries and applications will be received and evaluated in confidence. Mount Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or genetic information in regard to admissions, programs, activities or employment. Individuals of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
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