What's Next?

By the end of June a search team charged with finding Dartmouth's 17th president should be seated and ready to meet, according to trustee and search committee chair Dr. Al MUlley '70. He didn't reveal how many-people would be on the team. (The last presidential search team, in 1998, comprised six trustees, six faculty members, one alum and one student; it was chaired by trustee Bill King Jr. '63.)

Mulley explained three facets of the search team's duties: First, to identify qualified candidates with strong leadership qualities who are a good match for Dartmouth; second, to recruit and land qualified candidates; and third, to ensure the process is designed and conducted in a way that confers legitimacy on the new president.

Mulley joined board chair Ed Haldeman '70 this spring in soliciting input about presidential candidates at a variety of forums for students, faculty, employees and alumni. "We heard diverse viewpoints," says Mulley. Most notable, according to Mulley, was the ongoing need to leverage Dartmouth's internationalism and strong foreign studies programs as a unique strength, one that balances the College's rural setting. Also frequently mentioned were concerns that Wright's successor be committed to maintaining Dartmouth's identity as a college by balancing teaching and research while recruiting a stellar faculty and diverse students, and that the new president further the College's Sustainability efforts, enhance its reputation and move Dartmouth forward while maintaining its traditions.

While Haldeman was quick to agree with one alumnus that retention of faculty will be a top priority of the new president, both he and Mulley mentioned fundraising ability as an important trait. It is a "third dimension" to vision and leadership, Haldeman says. (Fundraising was not voiced as a priority of attendees at any of the sessions.)

Trustees planned to discuss the input at two subsequent special meetings in May to further define its search parameters.

Haldeman assured students that the search committee "will be casting a wide net," and also told them that the new president will have to be someone who can respect Dartmouth's history while furthering the College's evolution. "We need to find the right balance," he said.

Mulley admits that the search team faces an extraordinary task. "It's as exhilarating as it is challenging," he says, "and that makes it a privilege to be part of."

DIGITAL DIVERSIONS Apple's iTunes store claims it has more than 100,000 podcast episodes available to download. More than 300 of them emanate from your alma mater. Here's a sampling. RADIO TUCK Features student-run interviews with nationally recognized business leaders, including Sandy Alderson '69, CEO of the San Diego Padres, discussing the business of baseball; L.L. Bean chairman Leon Gorman on international growth and maintaining family ownership; and former Pepsi-Cola North America CEO Dawn Hudson '79 explaining how information technology is critical to marketing campaigns. VIEWS FROM THE GREEN The official podcast of the Dartmouth administration offers remarks by College officials and trustees as well as engaging academic talks by faculty. Among the 46 episodes in the series: Andrew Samwick, professor of economics and director of the Rockefeller Center, reflects on the career of Nelson Rockefeller '30; French professor Kate Conley talks about surrealism; and Rabbi Edward Boraz describes the annual trips Dartmouth students have been making to Europe to restore longneglected Jewish cemeteries. DHMC PUBLIC PODCASTS The medical center describes its programming as "medical podcasts for the general public." Titles such as "Obesity Prevention," "Childbirth" and "Diabetes" appear unexpectedly alongside "Growing Small Fruits and Berries" and "Organic Composting." INSIDE DARTMOUTH MEDICINE The Medical School alumni magazine videocasts interviews with the medical center's top doctors, such as Dr. Jack Wennberg, lead author of the groundbreaking Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. JONES SEMINAR This podcast from the Thayer School repurposes the school's weekly science and technology seminar. Included are the likes of Cathy Zoi, Th'85, CEO of Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Change, discussing a multi-million-dollar campaign to address global warming.