Search for the 9^th President

Dear Fairfield University Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Lynn M. Babington, PhD, RN, currently University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, as Interim President of Fairfield University. The appointment is effective January 1st, 2017 and will be in place through June 2017.

Since her arrival at Fairfield University, Lynn has been instrumental both in her role as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and in her continued support of innovation and institutional transformation. I, along with the Board of Trustees, have the utmost confidence in Lynn and her ability to lead the University at this critically important time.

Lynn's experience and tenure in higher education make her uniquely qualified for this role. She has served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fairfield since 2014. Prior to her role as Senior Vice President, she served as Dean of the School of Nursing since 2012 and also holds an appointment as Professor of Nursing. Prior to joining Fairfield University, Lynn was Associate Professor, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, and Director of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program at Northeastern University's School of Nursing. She has been the recipient of several honors and distinctions, including the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship and multiple awards for excellence in teaching and the use of technology, and is widely respected and called upon for her expertise as a nursing educator and academic leader. Lynn holds a B.S.N. from the University of Michigan and an M.N. and PhD from the University of Washington.

Please join me in congratulating Lynn on her new appointment.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Carroll III '89
Chairman, Board of Trustees

August 1, 2016

Dear Friends,

After 12 years as president of Fairfield University, I have received a new assignment from the Provincial of the USA Northeast Province, Rev. John Cecero, S.J., — the details of which you will read about below — and I will be leaving my post at Fairfield at the end of this calendar year.

Jesuits go where and when they are sent. That is a dimension of our lives and work that is essential to our spirituality, and so I accept this new mission willingly, and with a sense of anticipation for what is to come.

Obviously, there is a certain sadness as well, as I prepare to leave the University where I have been happy, and where I have enjoyed support and friendship. When I arrived in 2004, we joined in a common work — to move Fairfield into the new century, with a focus on integrity in all that we did and with a commitment to re-creating and renewing the traditions of Jesuit education: the care of the whole person; the embrace of a global perspective as a learning community; and the pursuit of excellence in teaching and scholarship. We applied ourselves to these goals, and I think we can be proud of what we have accomplished in this regard.

There has also been much change over these years. A dramatic break in the economy made demands on all of us, and compelled us to be creative in our thinking and forward-looking in our vision of the future. Again, thanks to our common efforts, we met those challenges, and we now have a strategic plan that we have developed in collaboration, and which I believe will position Fairfield for a great future.

I have confidence in the leadership team that is in place, and I have witnessed the spirit of our community, and its resourcefulness and resilience, so I know that all will be well and that our University community will continue to thrive. I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for joining me in the mission that we have shared, for your friendship over the years and for the kind words that you have expressed to me in recent weeks.

I look forward to continuing to work with you over the next few months, and so let's ask for God's continued blessing on our common work, here at Fairfield, and in Cambridge!

Sincerely,

Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.
President

Press Release, August 1, 2016

(FAIRFIELD CONN.) — The Very Rev. John Cecero, S.J., the Provincial of the USA Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus, has announced today that the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., President of Fairfield University, has been appointed as the Superior of the LaFarge House Jesuit Community in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the approval of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

LaFarge House, named after civil rights pioneer, writer and editor John LaFarge, S.J., was established at Harvard University in 1964 as a residence and center of Jesuit activity at the University. The Northeast Province was formed in 2014, combining the New England and New York provinces of the Society of Jesus.

“As a recently erected independent house of the USA Northeast Province, the corporate mission for this community, which will be comprised mainly of scholars and advanced doctoral students, will be to foster the spiritual and moral formation of the neighboring academic communities, primarily at Harvard University,” said Fr. Cecero. “Given Jeff’s background as President at Fairfield University for more than 12 years, it is clear he has the demonstrated academic and administrative credentials to engage with senior colleagues at a major university such as Harvard.”

“I am excited to be undertaking this new mission, furthering Jesuit higher education, facilitating the relationship between Jesuit scholars and Harvard and working to further the Society’s intellectual apostolate,” said Fr. von Arx. Fr. von Arx will formally take up his new assignment on January 1, 2017. “It has been a privilege and an honor to serve Fairfield University these past 12 years,” Fr. von Arx continued. “I am grateful to the Fairfield University Board of Trustees for their confidence and support, and to the entire Fairfield community for all that we have achieved to ensure that Fairfield has remained a leader in Jesuit higher education. I believe Fairfield has a great future ahead.”

Fairfield University announced on July 20, 2016 that the Board of Trustees has begun the search for a new president. The University has recently completed a new strategic plan to guide the institution for the coming years. The largest capital campaign in its history, Fairfield Rising, is approaching its conclusion and is expected to meet or exceed its $160 million target. Phase I of a new University master plan is well underway, which includes new facilities for nursing, health sciences and STEM programs, classroom and technological upgrades, state-of-the-art sports and recreational facilities, a new student residence and an expanded student center. Fairfield has seen an increase in applicants in recent years and is anticipating the largest incoming class in history this fall.

“As we approach our 75th anniversary, this is a wonderful time for Fairfield University, and for a new leader to build upon the success we have seen. I want to thank Fr. von Arx for his years of leadership and wish him well in his next assignment in Cambridge,” said Frank Carroll, Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees.

Ranked as one of the top 10 Catholic universities in the nation, Fairfield will ensure that its Jesuit and Catholic identity will remain at the core of its mission and vision of the future as it undergoes this important presidential transition process. Mr. Carroll indicated that the Board’s first priority will be to identify a small group of Fairfield University constituents to serve on the University Presidential Search Committee to advise the Board in the selection of a new president.

A Message from the Chairman, Board of Trustees

Dear University Community:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew J. McMahon ’89, P’13, '19, University Trustee, as Chair of the University’s presidential search committee, formed to identify candidates to serve as the 9th President of Fairfield University.

I am delighted that Andrew has accepted the role of Chair for this critically important committee. The committee will aim to attract talented Jesuit and lay leaders to Fairfield who are able to help us fulfill our mission. Andrew’s extensive professional experience and his deep knowledge of the Jesuit and Catholic mission of Fairfield make him a perfect fit for this role.

Along with Andrew’s appointment, Fairfield University also announced today a small group of Fairfield University community members to serve on the search committee. Selected by the Board of Trustees, these members will provide invaluable input in identifying extraordinary candidates qualified to serve as Fairfield’s next President. I want to thank these members for their valuable contribution to the University.

The Board of Trustees is in the process of identifying and retaining a national search firm to assist the search committee throughout the process. The new president is expected to begin his or her term by July 2017.

I will continue to provide University updates throughout the search process.

Thank you.

Frank J. Carroll III '89
Chairman, Board of Trustees

Media Contact: Teddy DeRosa, tderosa@fairfield.edu, 203-254-4000 ext. 2118

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY HIRES GLOBAL EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM RUSSELL REYNOLDS ASSOCIATES AS IT SEEKS NEW PRESIDENT

Search firm will partner with the University to Identify, Assess and Recruit the Jesuit University’s 9th President.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (November 3, 2016) — Fairfield University today announced the selection of Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading global executive search and assessment firm, to lead the recruitment efforts for the 9th president of the institution.

“Russell Reynolds Associates’ experience in leading searches for university presidents, combined with the firm’s deep understanding of the changing landscape of higher education, makes this the perfect fit given the transformative period of growth and evolution that Fairfield is experiencing today,” said Andrew McMahon ’89, P’13, '19, University Trustee, and Chair of the University’s Presidential Search Committee. “We are confident Russell Reynolds will support our efforts in attracting exceptional candidates to Fairfield University.”

Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leader in assessment, recruitment and succession planning for boards of directors, chief executive officers, and key roles within the C-suite. With more than 370 consultants in 46 offices around the world, the firm works closely with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across all industries and regions.

“The significance of Jesuit education has stood the test of time,” said Russell Reynolds Associates CEO Clarke Murphy. “We are proud to partner with Fairfield University during this critical time of evolution and transformation both at Fairfield and within the landscape of higher education today.”

All position inquiries should be directed to Russell Reynolds Associates, attention Jett Pihakis and Meredith Rosenberg, Fairfield.President@russellreynolds.com.

#Vol. 49, No. 66

Fairfield University is a Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year. I am also pleased to share with you an update on our progress in the search for Fairfield’s next president, which we started late 2016 in partnership with consultants Russell Reynolds Associates.

Phase One – Community Input – Completed
We have collected extensive feedback from alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, University trustees and others, on the key priorities and challenges facing the incoming president, as well as the key competencies and experiences central to any successful candidate. Through a variety of activities, including surveys, in-person forums, interviews and other discussions, we received very thoughtful input. All of this feedback was considered in developing a comprehensive description of the role, available on the Presidential Search Committee website.

Phase Two – Outreach – Ongoing
We are researching the market extensively to identify the best possible candidates. In addition, we have reached out broadly to the Fairfield and extended community seeking nominations. We have placed advertisements in prominent publications including The Chronicle of Higher Education. To date, we have received many nominations and will continue to do so.

Phase Three – Interviews and Candidate Identification – Ongoing
Russell Reynolds started meeting with potential candidates and will continue to do so over the coming weeks. The Search Committee will begin meeting with candidates in February.

Please send any questions directly to Russell Reynolds Associates at Fairfield.president@russellreynolds.com.

Thank you for your participation to date in this very important process. We will continue to provide the community with updates as the search progresses.

Sincerely,

Andrew McMahon ’89, P’13, '19
Search Committee Chair
Member of the Board of Trustees