4/6/2026
Dear Campus Community:
In follow up to my message to the campus on January 23, I am pleased to now write and share an update on the presidential search process, including information about the appointment of the presidential search committee, the selection of a search consultant, and upcoming opportunities for the campus community to provide input later this month.
Appointment of the Presidential Search Committee
The Presidential Search Committee (“Search Committee”), a special committee to the Board of Trustees, includes representation from trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni and is supported by key university staff members. Consistent with the Board of Trustees’ Presidential Succession Policy, the Board approved the composition and distribution of non-trustee members of the Committee, aiming for a group that is small enough to be effective, offer balance in terms of constituency (alumni, faculty, students, staff) and knowledge, and broad enough to provide trustees with the varying perspectives that will be necessary to conduct a successful search. Following the Board’s action, I have worked with our shared governance leaders to identify and appoint non-trustee members of the Search Committee. Thank you to those who expressed interest, as we received thoughtful and impressive nominations and any of the candidates could have served the committee and university well in the search process. As a result, I am confident we have identified an outstanding group to serve on the Search Committee:
Committee Chair:
Beth Picardo ’83, J.D.’86, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Members:
Robin Aijian ’04, Senior Director of Admission
Winston Zapet Bamac ‘27, ASUPS president, student
Nick Brody, Professor, Communications
Bill Canfield ’76, P‘08, Trustee (and former Trustee Emeritus)
Patty English, Staff Senate Chair and Manager of Administration, Facilities Services
Brian Gross ’98, Trustee
Shelly Heier ’98, Trustee
Jung Kim, Professor, Exercise Science
Gwen Lillis P’05, Trustee (and former Trustee Emerita)
Ryan McAninch ‘06, Trustee
Sunshine Morrison ‘94, Trustee
Chris Pohlad ’07, Trustee
Lyle Quasim ’70, Hon. ’05, Trustee (and former Trustee Emeritus)
McKenzie Ross ‘06, Alumni Council president
Justin Tiehen, Faculty Senate Chair, and Professor, Philosophy
Erik Wallace ’96, Trustee
Renee Watling, Professor, Occupational Therapy
Committee Staff:
Joanna Carey Cleveland, Vice President and General Counsel, Chief of Staff, and Board Secretary
Mari Gutierrez, Assistant to the Vice President for University Relations and Board Operations Coordinator
Nancy Nieraeth ’93, M.Ed. ’00, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Chief People Officer
The Search Committee will have its first meeting later this month, and will continue to meet through the summer and fall, in anticipation of recommending final candidates to the Board of Trustees by the end of the fall semester.
Selection of Search Consultant
The Committee will be assisted in its work by DSG Storbeck. DSG Storbeck is the Education Practice of DSG Global, the world’s largest woman-founded and woman-led executive search firm. We are excited to partner with DSG Storbeck as they are known for providing unparalleled search expertise, an expanded reach, inclusive candidate pipelines, and a shared commitment to advancing leadership across higher education with a special expertise in private, liberal arts institutions. Recent presidential searches include Kenyon College, The College of Wooster, Rollins College, St. Olaf College, Whitman College, and Wittenberg University. More than 80 percent of their searches are conducted for returning clients, and 85 percent of their executive-level placements are either still in office or served for five years or more.
Managing Directors Susan VanGilder and Jim Sirianni, along with Managing Associate Danielle Mebert will lead the DSG Storbeck team.
Upcoming Opportunities for Campus Input
We will soon be launching a search website that will be a repository and resource for search-related information.
In the meantime, on April 22-23, we will be hosting on campus listening sessions for faculty, staff, and students and other key constituents and a final schedule will be shared soon. We encourage your participation in these sessions which will help inform the committee’s development of the leadership profile that will be shared with prospective candidates.
Following the listening sessions, we will also be sharing an online survey that will provide another avenue to offer input for the committee’s consideration. You can attend a listening session and also complete the survey if you wish to do so.
Finally, we have also created a search email (presidentsearch2026@
It is an honor to serve as chair of the committee that will conduct Puget Sound’s search for its fifteenth president. Electing a president is one of the most important roles of the Board of Trustees, and trustees believe this process is best undertaken with the involvement of the entire campus community. We look forward to your upcoming engagement with the search process and will continue to provide periodic updates on our progress.
To the Heights!
Beth M. Picardo ’83, J.D. ’86 | Chair of the Board of Trustees