PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH

Sweet Briar College was established in 1901 by Indiana Fletcher Williams to provide an exceptional education for future generations of women. Since the first 51 students arrived in 1906, Sweet Briar has been empowering women to become strong leaders, professionals, and citizens. Today, faculty and staff focus on guiding students to become active learners in a customized educational program that emphasizes the liberal arts and sciences and prepares them for dynamic and creative lives. Sweet Briar College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master of Education degrees. The extraordinary value of a Sweet Briar education was demonstrated to the world in 2015 when an attempt was made to close the College. The alumnae mobilized, forming a nonprofit organization, Saving Sweet Briar, Inc., which raised a remarkable $28.5 million in pledges in only 110 days; nearly $15 million of these pledges were converted to cash within 70 days. In June 2015, it was announced that Sweet Briar would remain open. With less than two months to prepare, Sweet Briar seamlessly welcomed new and returning students, staff, and faculty to the 2015-2016 academic year. This unprecedented engagement and rapid investment response has continued with the College announcing in July 2016 that an additional $10.25 million had been raised in just six months as part of Sweet Briar’s “Next Is Now” campaign. In spite of the significant losses incurred from the attempted closure, the College completed the 2015-2016 fiscal year under budget by $2 million and without drawing on its endowment for the first time in its history.

Sweet Briar prides itself on being an institution where women are challenged intellectually, supported individually, and empowered as future leaders. Students often cite the mentoring relationships they forge with faculty members as key to their educational experience. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty advisors, students benefit from individualized attention as they work toward their own academic and professional goals. The range of majors is diverse with strong traditional and cross-disciplinary programs in humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and STEM fields.

Sweet Briar is one of only two women’s colleges in the U.S. to offer an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The College also was recognized in 2016 as an affiliate institution of the Building, Recruiting, and Inclusion for Diversity Initiative, which aims to increase diversity among undergraduates studying computer science at schools across the country. In addition, the five-year Master of Arts in Teaching program combines a graduate degree with licensure preparation, enhancing the rigor and relevance of the degree.

The National Survey of Student Engagement continues to highlight the exceptional educational experience at Sweet Briar. Forty percent of Sweet Briar students participate

INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE

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“Sweet Briar prides itself on being an institution where women

are challenged intellectually,

supported individually, and

empowered as future leaders.”

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in a study abroad program, 60 percent work on a research project with a faculty member, and 90 percent have a high-impact educational experience through an internship or a formal, on-campus leadership role.

Sweet Briar’s riding program is internationally renowned for its outstanding instruction and exceptional facilities and has won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship for the past three years. Sweet Briar’s Division III varsity athletic teams compete within ODAC and include lacrosse, tennis, swimming, softball, field hockey, soccer, and, recently added, golf and cross country.

Sweet Briar is adjacent to the Town of Amherst in central Virginia, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, within easy driving distance of national forests, historic sites, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Charlottesville, and Raleigh/Durham. Lynchburg, the nearest city, is home to four colleges and boasts a thriving downtown, museums, shopping, restaurants, and a vibrant visual and performing arts scene.

The College’s 3,200-acre campus includes eight nature sanctuaries and eighteen miles of trails that wind through meadows, woods, and natural springs. Twenty-one of its buildings are listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

Sweet Briar’s endowment is currently valued at $66 million and its operating budget is $33.2 million. As of July 2016, the College employs 69 full-time and 16 part-time faculty members and 168 full-time and 17 part-time staff members. For the academic year 2016-2017, enrollment is expected to rise to 325 students, half returning and half new, from 31 states and five countries. Before the announcement of closure, Sweet Briar typically enrolled 600 students, an enrollment level that is expected to be exceeded within the next few years.

Sweet Briar has been recognized for its exceptional educational experience in many ways, including the following:

• One of only ten percent of college campuses with a Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society chapter

• Included in Forbes’ lists of the “300 best value colleges” and “most beautiful college campuses”

• Regularly ranked by the Princeton Review among the nation’s top 20 colleges for “best career services”, “most accessible professors”, “professors get high marks”, “classroom discussions are encouraged,” and “best college dorms”

• Also regularly included by Princeton Review as a “best Southeastern college”, “best value college”, “top colleges in the South”, “top 10 best women’s colleges”, “top 10 best private colleges in the South”, and “most beautiful campuses”

• Cited by Washington Monthly as a “best bang for the buck among liberal arts colleges”

• Listed by Business Insider among the “20 best college campuses in the U.S.”

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Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President will serve as the chief executive officer of the College, responsible for all aspects of its administration. The President is an ex officio member of the Board and acts as liaison between the College community and the Board of Directors. Leading the strategic direction and planning for the future of the College, the President oversees its financial operation to ensure its viability and success. S/he is responsible for the development and implementation of key institutional policies, procedures, and initiatives.

The President’s Council is currently composed of the following senior administrative officers, who report directly to the President:

• Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs• Vice President for Administration and General Counsel• Vice President for Finance and Treasurer• Vice President for Alumnae Relations and Development• Vice President for Enrollment Management• Dean of Student Life and Academic Support

THE ROLE

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The next President of Sweet Briar College has an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that this extraordinary women’s college thrives in perpetuity. S/he will lead a strong senior leadership team and a vigorously engaged community of faculty, administration, staff, students, alumnae, and friends to shape the next chapter of Sweet Briar’s history by ensuring a healthy, viable, and sustainable future.

ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY• Design and implement a new model for short- and long-term financial

sustainability• Cultivate relationships with donors and lead ambitious fundraising efforts• Creatively identify and secure new sources of revenue• Ensure careful stewardship of the endowment while increasing overall size• Leverage the distinctive assets of the College, both tangible and intangible

CRAFT A STRATEGIC VISION• Lead strategic planning and create a shared sense of mission, vision, and culture

for Sweet Briar’s long-term future• Direct and support the call to action for women’s liberal arts and the College’s

distinctive place in the landscape of higher education• Enhance diversity and foster a sense of inclusion• Raise the academic profile of the school and refine the curriculum to meet the

needs of the next generation• Build upon the tremendous success and momentum of the past year

BUILD COMMUNITY• Promote the value of a Sweet Briar education to internal and external stakeholders• Increase admissions outreach efforts, increase enrollment, and improve yield by

fostering innovative efforts such as expansion of international recruitment and improving retention

• Enhance student experience on and off campus to improve retention rates• Recruit and retain outstanding faculty and staff• Enhance communication, transparency, collaboration, and trust within

community• Faithfully support the College’s key traditions and culture to ensure continuity• Provide stewardship of the College’s unique campus• Embrace and engage key constituents

PRIORITIES

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“The next President of Sweet Briar College has an unprecedented

opportunity to ensure that this extraordinary women’s college

thrives in perpetuity. ”

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Strong candidates will hold an advanced degree, preferably a terminal degree, and will have demonstrated passion for the liberal arts and for women’s education.

INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP• Collaborative and visionary leadership style with proven skill to unite

stakeholders toward common goals• Capacity to inspire trust and foster strong relationships among diverse

constituencies• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills• Entrepreneurial spirit along with humble, affable, and outgoing demeanor• Excellent judgment supported by highest standard of personal ethics and

integrity• Experience successfully working with governing and advisory boards• Reputation for serving as a positive role model

MANAGERIAL ACUMEN• Creative and energetic approach to growing resources, including exploring

new revenue opportunities• Track record and alacrity for friend- and fundraising• History of hiring wisely, mentoring, and retaining talented individuals• Innovative approach to exploring new business models within higher education

APPRECIATION FOR SWEET BRIAR• Ability to develop a deep and genuine appreciation for Sweet Briar’s history,

values, and culture• Desire to become an integral community leader in an appealing, rural setting• Enthusiasm for playing a pivotal leadership role in the national conversation

regarding the importance of women’s colleges and a liberal arts education

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS

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Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest should be forwarded in confidence to: SweetBriar1901@storbeckpimentel.com.

Sweet Briar College strives for a diverse workforce in support of a diverse student population. In accordance with the Federal law, the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and/or Sweet Briar Policy,

Sweet Briar College does not discriminate in education activities or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, handicap, national origin, veteran status or sexual orientation.

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