STATUS: INTERVIEWING

Wheeling Jesuit University seeks an outstanding individual with demonstrated leadership skills to become its next president. The youngest of 28 Jesuit, Catholic colleges and universities in the United States, Wheeling Jesuit University offers students a quality private education. Since 1995 U.S. News & World Report has ranked Wheeling Jesuit University among the top institutions in its “Best Master’s Universities in the South” category. The University ranks 180 out of 600 in the Forbes Best Colleges survey.

Though a young university, the institution is rooted in the 450 year-old mission of Jesuit higher education to prepare students to live out their lives with critical minds and compassionate hearts. Located less than an hour south of Pittsburgh, in one of the nation’s safest cities where public traditions of art, culture, and parks complement a successful industrial heritage, Wheeling Jesuit provides an uncommon background for academic pursuits. The 65-acre campus is also home to the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies, the NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future, a Challenger Learning Center, the Clifford M. Lewis Appalachian Institute, and the WJU Institute for the Study of Capitalism and Morality.

The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the school reporting to the Board of Directors. The President is hired by the Board, with the approval of the Provincial of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, to provide leadership in the University and in the community. The President is directly responsible for long-range planning and outreach to the community, with a particular focus on fund-raising and enrollment.

The successful candidate must be someone who

• Is a faithful Catholic and a man or woman for others, someone who embodies the values of a Jesuit education and Ignatian spirituality.
• Has successfully demonstrated the necessary leadership skills to excel as both an academic leader and chief executive officer.
• Has successfully demonstrated the ability to excel at fundraising and the establishment of requisite relations.
• Is capable of inspiring excellence in teaching and learning.
• Understands that excellence requires an absolute commitment to both educational quality and fiscal integrity.
• Can demonstrate a record of achievement in leading and managing organizations and dealing with financial challenges.
• Has proven strategic leadership skills to frame a compelling vision of Wheeling Jesuit’s future that will energize the campus community and other stakeholders to lend their support.
• Can effectively represent the University in the larger community.
• Wants to make a difference in the lives of our students.

Nominations, inquiries and expressions of interest, which will be held in the strictest confidence, should be submitted as a Microsoft Word attachment to Margaret Helm, Chair of the Search Committee at presidentialsearch@wju.edu. Applicants should provide a letter of application, resume or curriculum vitae, and a list of references. Additional information about Wheeling Jesuit University can also be found at www.wju.edu.

The search committee is being assisted by Dr. Thomas Scheye, Distinguished Service Professor and former Provost at Loyola University Maryland. Questions may be addressed to him directly at scheye@loyola.edu.

Review of candidates began October 1, 2009. The position remains open.