Executive Director Search

Community Update from the ED Search Committee Chair

Dear MSSM Community,

As our Executive Director search advances, we are excited to provide an update from the Search Committee. Following virtual interviews with seven semi-finalist candidates earlier this week, three finalists have been identified and invited to visit MSSM over the next two weeks. We selected these educational leaders after extensive candidate recruitment efforts, a review of dossiers from those most qualified, confidential reference calls, and hour-long interviews conducted by the full Search Committee, supported by our consultant, Tracy Bennett of Educators Collaborative.

Community Update from the ED Search

Dear MSSM Community,

On behalf of the Search Committee, I’d like to thank the faculty, staff, and students who took time to meet with our search consultant, Tracy Bennett, during her visit to campus last week. Over the course of two very full days Tracy heard from community members who are deeply invested in the future of MSSM. In her words, “there is great affection and support for MSSM and the educational experience it offers students. Even those holding concerns or frustration were unwavering in their gratitude for the people and program at MSSM. Combined with this is a deep commitment to the mission of the school and the sense of community it fosters.

Information for Candidates

Dear MSSM Community,

Many thanks to all of you who provided invaluable feedback through our online survey—we had over 100 respondents. Your input, in addition to conversations with school leaders, guided our development of the Information for Candidates. This comprehensive document provides potential candidates with an overview of our school, an outline of the opportunities and challenges before us, and a profile of the skills and attributes we will look for in our next Executive Director.

Educators Collaborative

Dear MSSM Community,

I hope 2023 is off to a terrific start for everyone! J-Term is in full swing, and while the campus feels notably quiet, we know that Penguins are engaged in exciting experiences both near and far. On behalf of the Executive Director Search Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on our work. As I shared in December, we have two primary goals: to conduct a successful search and identify the next MSSM leader who will build upon the accomplishments of the past two years, and to ensure a transparent and inclusive search process in which all constituencies and individuals have opportunities to provide feedback.

Search Committee Process, Goals, & Timeline

Dear MSSM Community,

I am writing to you today with the first of a series of ongoing communications for MSSM’s next Executive Director that we will be providing to the extended MSSM community throughout the search process.

I am very pleased to announce that the search committee has convened twice, and has its third meeting scheduled for this coming Monday evening.  At our first meeting, we considered our charge from the Board, which was to determine the parameters and conditions of the search, and unanimously concluded to recommend the initiation of a full search for MSSM’s next Executive Director and to evaluate potential firms that could assist our nationwide search.  We hope to have a short list of potential search firms compiled following our next meeting and to be able to make a recommendation to the Board of a search firm partner before the holiday break.

Executive Director Search Committee Announced

Dear MSSM Community,

Where has the time gone?  It seems just yesterday that MSSM faculty and staff were gearing up to have new and returning students flooding into the dormitory, and now the community is gearing up for a wonderfully exciting J-Term!  It’s so hard to believe!

While the time has definitely flown, there’s no doubt that a lot has happened since that opening week – not the least of which was Sam Critchlow’s announcement that he would be leaving MSSM at the end of the school year.  I don’t mind confessing that I was simultaneously thrilled for Sam to have this wonderful opportunity while personally saddened at the tremendous loss for MSSM.  I first had the pleasure of working with Sam as a student in my Linear Algebra class and have only grown in my appreciation of his skills, talents, and contributions.  He has led the school wonderfully during the past year and a half and will be greatly missed!  We wish Sam the very best in his new endeavors, knowing that the High Mountain Institute is going to be in excellent hands with Sam at the helm!