Hampshire College this week is bringing finalists to campus in its search for a new president. Enrollment at the Amherst, Massachusetts, college has dropped by half amid financial uncertainty.
Three finalists are meeting with about 35 campus representatives in this week's interviews. Hampshire spokesman John Courtmanche said the finalists are all higher education leaders, but the college is not releasing their names.
"The candidates have asked for confidentiality so that their current employers, first of all, aren't aware that they're searching, but also there will be a pretty quick transition," Courtmanche said. "Our new president will start by the end of August."
Whoever gets the position will be tasked with rebuilding enrollment that will have dropped to just 600 students this fall. The job will also include a whole lot of fundraising, as Hampshire has set a $100 million goal.
Courtmanche called the presidency "an amazing opportunity" for applicants, noting the national attention Hampshire has received in recent months.
"This is an opportunity for someone to come in and not only lead the college through the transition, but perhaps create a model for other small liberal arts colleges and how to transform their business model and their academic model and secure a college for the future," Courtmanche said.
The new president will succeed interim leader Ken Rosenthal. He took over in April from Miriam Nelson, who led the college for just nine months.
Nelson resigned after her efforts to find Hampshire a "long-term partner" met strong resistance from faculty, students and alumni. Rosenethal has said he's focused on keeping Hampshire independent.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said Miriam Nelson served as Hampshire College's president for just over eight months. It was actually a little more than nine months.
