October 15, 2021 | Matt Kucinski

Students posing in front of the Calvin University entrance sign.

An international search for Calvin University’s 11th president is officially underway. On Friday, October 15, the presidential search committee launched a search website, which includes a job description for Calvin’s next leader, nomination/application information, and resources to help guide nominators, nominees, and committee members in discerning the right fit.

In June 2021, President Le Roy announced that he would not seek renewal of his contract beyond the 2021-2022 academic year, citing a pull to the northwest to be closer to his family, including three adult children. That same month, the board of trustees appointed Mary Tuuk Kuras, vice chair of the board of trustees, to head up the presidential search committee.

The 16-member presidential search committee began their work in earnest in early August. Represented on the team are faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, trustees, and other key stakeholders.

Over the past several weeks, the committee has partnered with AGB Search, a widely recognized search consultant in higher education, in seeking input from the Calvin community through a wide variety of listening sessions and a survey. This input helped in shaping the position profile, which presents both the desired attributes of the university’s next leader and the institution’s current reality and future vision.

The committee is now seeking nominations and applications and welcomes the candidacies of anyone who shows considerable evidence or aptitude for the desired qualities of leadership detailed in the search profile regardless of gender or race. Leaders from fields other than higher education are encouraged to apply as well.

The committee will spend the remaining weeks of October, November, and December building the candidate pool and will review applications beginning in November. To be fully considered for the position, applications must be submitted by January 4, 2022.

The search committee is responsible for recommending a candidate to the Calvin University Board of Trustees by March 1, 2022.


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