Beginning in December 2024, The Wittenberg Board of Directors embarked on the search the University's 16th president in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff following the November 15th announcement that President Michael L. Frandsen, Ph.D., would conclude his service on June 30, 2025.
This website was updated regularly throughout the search, which ended May 9, 2025 with the announcement of Wittenberg's 16th president. For questions regarding this historic search, email presidentialsearch@wittenberg.edu.
As part of the process, a formal presidential profile advertising the search for Wittenberg's 16th president was developed. Those interested were encouraged to learn more about Wittenberg University and the opportunities, challenges, qualifications, and personal characteristics the University sought in its next president.
Search Updates
The Presidential Search Committee, led by Board of Directors' members Doug Kentfield '78, who served as chair, and John M. Shumate '99, who served as vice chair, shared periodic email updates to campus throughout the search process for Wittenberg's 16th president. All search updates were saved on this website for easy access.
The Presidential Search Committee was charged with leading a transparent, inclusive, and successful search to identify the best candidate to serve as Wittenberg's 16th president by July 2025. The committee consisted of 15 members of the Wittenberg community, including one student, three faculty, one staff member, eight current Board members, one emeriti Board member, and one alumni representative.
Search Firm
The Presidential Search Committee partnered with DSG I Storbeck Search, a leading search firm in higher education and nonprofit leadership with extensive experience recruiting for select liberal arts institutions like Wittenberg.
