Board of Trustees. Presidential Search, 1996

Sub-Group

Identifier: RG01-04

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The best source of a general overview of the 1996 Presidential Search is the file: Timetable, 1995-97. This file contains information on the overall process of the search and how it was performed. For information on searches prior to the 1996 search, please see the files located in Box 2 entitled Search History - 1983" or "Search History - 1968." A great wealth of information that is summed up in a neat report on previous searches is located in the file: "Nancy Covington Search Memorandum." Information on the two search firms used in the selection process are located in their own individual files. ASCS (Academic Search Consultation Services) was used at the beginning of the search while Korn/Ferry International was used in the second half of the search. Information on how to perform a Presidential Search (non-Davidson related) is located in the file: "Presidential Searches Publications." This file will be a great assest to future members of Presidential search committtees. All of the information in the Archives boxes on the President Search is confidential. In addition, all of the information contained in these boxes is more general in nature -- i.e., for information on specific candidates who applied to the presidency, you must look in the Candidate Files which are housed in the VAC. Throughout the Archives files, however, names are mentioned."

Dates

Creation: 1996

Creator

Board of Trustees (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

YES -- Entire collection is restricted until 2025

Biographical / Historical

On January 12, 1996, President John Wells Kuykendall announced his retirement to the college community. Following this announcement, the Board of Trustees began a formal search to locate his next successor. A Search Committee was formed consisting of nine trustee members appointed by the Chair, five faculty members elected by the faculty, two members from the administration selected by the Chair, and five student members elected by the SGA. A Search Firm also was hired to assist in the process and an administrative assistant, Nancy Covington, was hired as well. After soliciting the nominations of candidates for the presidency, the Search Committee began to interview potential candidates. On May 2, 1997, Robert Fredrick Vagt was formally announcement as the 16th president of Davidson College following his election by a meeting of the Board of Trustees.