Lake Forest College has entered a formal search process to select its fifteenth president.A 12-member Presidential Search Committee selected by the College’s Board of Trustees has committed to finding the most-qualified candidate to lead this outstanding liberal arts institution into the future.
Presidential Search Committee:
Marisue Lacher, Co-Chair, Trustee
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Robert Murley, Co-Chair, Trustee
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Earl Barnes ’86, Trustee
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Doni Fordyce-Urfirer ’81, Trustee
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Karen Frost ’88, Trustee
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Rebecca Graff, Associate Professor of Anthropology
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Matt Kelley, Associate Dean of the Faculty, Professor of Psychology
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Rob Lemke, Professor of Economics, Morten Chair of Public Policy
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Mark Shadle ’84, Trustee
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Jackie Slaats, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Career Advancement
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Alexander Stuart, Trustee
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Claudia Wyatt-Johnson ’69, Trustee
The Search Process
The Board of Trustees has retained Russell Reynolds Associates—a national search firm with deep expertise in higher education—to serve as consultant to the Search Committee.
Representatives of Russell Reynolds will conduct an extensive national search and provide:
- a list of potential candidates to be considered by the Search Committee,
- participate in reference checking, and
- assist in the logistics surrounding the search process.
Several listening sessions were held and surveys conducted with various College stakeholder groups to gather input on the priorities for and qualities desired in the next president.
The mandate of the Search Committee is to find the most qualified candidate to recommend to the Board of Trustees as the next President of Lake Forest College.
Presidential Search Profile
We seek an extraordinary leader to guide our exemplary institution into its next chapter—an accomplished, dynamic institutional leader with a proven record of strategic vision and fundraising success. The ideal candidate will prioritize academic excellence, community engagement, and student success.
This is more than a leadership role—it’s a rare opportunity to join a vibrant community unlike any other.
Learn more about the position below
Expressions of interest and nominations
Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest should be sent to our search firm at: lakeforestcollege@russellreynolds.com.
For priority consideration, please submit a CV and an optional cover letter by April 30, 2025.
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Lake Forest College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship status, work authorization status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, order of protection status, arrest record, or any other classification protected by law in matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services or in the educational programs or activities it operates.
Lake Forest College complies with federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on the protected categories listed above, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on sex (including sexual misconduct) in the College’s educational programs and activities.
Lake Forest College provides reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants, students, and employees with disabilities and to individuals who are pregnant.
Search communications
Presidential Search Committee Co-Chairs Marisue Lacher and Bob Murley will share as much search information as possible with the College community while maintaining the confidentiality of the applicants:
March 18, 2025
Dear Lake Forest College community,
Thank you to the nearly 900 individuals who participated in the survey regarding the priorities and background for the selection of our 15th President. Our thanks as well to the dozens of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of the community who participated in listening sessions, both in-person and via Zoom, over the past few weeks. The search committee has finalized the job profile, identifying the highest priority needs, and it is posted on the College's website [link to site]. The search is currently underway, and the committee looks forward to providing an update on the progress throughout the spring semester. If you would like to nominate someone for this opportunity, please send submissions to lakeforestcollege@russellreynolds.com
Sincerely,
Marisue Lacher and Bob Murley
Co-Chairs, Presidential Search Committee
Board of Trustees