October 21, 2010

Contact: Stacey Schmeidel, Associate VP for College Communications
704/894-2798

Davidson, NC - Mackey McDonald '68, chair of Davidson College's Board of Trustees, and Kristin Hills Bradberry '85, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, today announced the membership of the committee that will lead the search for Davidson's 18th president.

"We're very excited about this group," McDonald said. "These individuals are strongly committed to Davidson's core values, and to moving the college forward in the years ahead. They will approach their work seriously and enthusiastically. We are confident that we will find a strong leader who is dedicated to continuing Davidson's commitment to honor and excellence."

Davidson's Presidential Search Committee will be made up of nine trustees, five faculty, three students, and two staff members. Serving on this committee are:

Kristin Hills Bradberry '85, Chair; Trustee, Strategic Advisor to Nonprofits, Charlotte, NC
Ruth L. Ault, Nancy and Erwin Maddrey Professor of Psychology
Cole Barton, C. Louise Nelson Professor of Psychology
Dan Boye, Professor of Physics
Ann Hayes Browning '79, Trustee, Carolina Thread Trail Project Director, Catawba Lands Conservancy, Charlotte, NC
Ann Marie Costa, Professor of Theatre
Ginger Taylor Evans '80, Trustee, Director of Christian Education, Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA
Eileen M. Keeley '89, Vice President for College Relations
Mackey J. McDonald '68, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Retired Chair, VF Corporation, Greensboro, NC
John David "J.D." Merrill '13, Student
Robert J. Miller '84, Trustee, Private Investor, Charlotte, NC
Sara Tatum Pottenger '79, Trustee, Community Volunteer, Durham, NC
Shamita Punjabi '12, Student
Faheem Rathore '12, Student
William L. Rikard, Jr. '67, Trustee, Partner/Attorney, Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein, Charlotte, NC
Mitzi Short '83, Trustee, VP and General Manager, SUPERVALU Customer Team, PepsiCo, Oak Park, IL
The Rev. Robert Spach '84, College Chaplain
R. David Sprinkle '66, Trustee, Retired President/Chief Executive Officer, The Todd Organization, Greensboro, NC
John R. Swallow, Vice Chair of the Faculty pro tem, J. T. Kimbrough Professor of Mathematics and Humanities

All members of the committee will review applications, interview candidates, and deliberate on the selection, with trustees voting on the final decision.

Bradberry noted that the committee will hold its first meeting soon and provide regular updates as the search progresses. "We welcome suggestions from the college community about the qualities we should seek in Davidson's next president," she said. "The college has developed a strong vision for the future, and we will be looking for a leader who has the skill and passion to match that vision."

Davidson's outgoing president, Tom Ross '72, has been named president of the 17-campus University of North Carolina. His appointment at UNC is effective January 1, 2011. Davidson's Board of Trustees has elected President Emeritus John W. Kuykendall '59 to serve as interim president during the search for Ross' successor. Kuykendall's appointment is effective Dec. 10, and he will begin to work with President Tom Ross in early November to ensure a smooth transition.

Additional information about Davidson's presidential search is available on the Web site.

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,900 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
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