Bradley University Presidential Search

The search for the next president of Bradley University is underway.

Search firm Russell Reynolds will support the work of the presidential search committee to identify the next president by late spring 2025.

Leadership Profile

The Bradley University presidential leadership profile is the result of extensive community listening sessions with faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and members of the community.

Candidate nominations should be sent to bradley@russellreynolds.com.

Bradley University Presidential Search Committee

The presidential search committee is a diverse group of campus stakeholders, including Bradley Board of Trustees members, faculty, staff and students. Any communication or questions for the presidential search committee can be sent directly to the search committee chairs at psc@bradley.edu.

Bradley University Presidential Search Updates

February 18, 2025: Bradley Presidential Search Update

Dear Bradley Community,

We are pleased to share an update on the search for the next President of Bradley University.

First, we sincerely thank the Presidential Search Committee members, who represent faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees, for their commitment and thoughtful deliberation to get us to this pivotal point in the process. Their work exemplifies the spirit of Lydia Moss Bradley, a visionary who created a school the world needed and makes us proud to be a part of the Bradley University community. After a methodical and thorough process of interviewing and otherwise vetting many strong candidates, the Search Committee has selected a small group of outstanding finalists to move forward.

As you may know, the best practices for conducting presidential searches at private colleges and universities have evolved over the years, so we want to share next steps for your awareness.

Because information now travels more quickly than it ever has, attracting strong candidates now requires a confidential process. But we also feel strongly that continued campus engagement is critical. Accordingly, each finalist will have the opportunity to meet with a small number of individuals (all identified by the search committee), each of whom represent a constituent group and all of whom will sign a nondisclosure agreement; this small group will provide feedback to the Search Committee. Subsequently, the Search Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for approval.

The Search Committee and the Board are committed to choosing a leader who will unite and inspire our community. We anticipate announcing the thirteenth President of Bradley University this spring.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in listening sessions, submitted nominations, and shared insights throughout this process. Your engagement has been invaluable. On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Trustees, we are most grateful as we look forward to this exciting new chapter in Bradley’s history.

Sincerely,

Kathi Holst and Matt Vonachen
Presidential Search Committee Co-Chairs

January 22, 2025: Bradley Presidential Search Update

Dear Bradley Community,

We want to take this opportunity to update you on the search for the 13th President of Bradley University. The Presidential Search Committee has reviewed a strong and diverse candidate pool, with individuals bringing a variety of experiences and perspectives from across the country.

We are pleased to report that the search is on track and going very well. Having spent much of the fall semester on recruiting, the committee is now in the midst of the interviewing phase of the search. In addition to the faculty, staff, and student who are on the presidential search committee, we will be asking a few other representatives from the Bradley community to meet in person with candidates later in the process. We are still on course to announce the new president late in the spring semester.

We want to emphasize that the search committee members have pledged to maintain strict confidentiality throughout this process. This is a key aspect of our commitment to protecting the privacy of candidates, which allows us to attract and retain strong candidates. We will continue updating the Bradley community as the process continues to advance. Any communication or questions for the presidential search committee can be sent directly to the search committee chairs at psc@bradley.edu.

We are grateful to the trustees, faculty, staff, students, and members of the community who are serving on the Presidential Search Committee and to all of you who have put your trust in us to work together to serve the best interests of the University.

Sincerely,

Kathi Holst and Matt Vonachen
Presidential Search Committee Co-Chairs

Jonathan Michael
Interim President

November 1, 2024: Bradley Presidential Search Update

Dear Bradley Community,

We are pleased to present the leadership profile for the 13th President of Bradley University. Click here to view the profile.

The leadership profile is the result of extensive community listening sessions with faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and members of the community over the past month. We also received over 640 responses to our online survey. On behalf of the search committee and the Board of Trustees, we want to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all who participated.

Over the next several months, working with our search consultants at Russell Reynolds Associates, we will contact the individuals who are suggested by members of the Bradley community and reach out to other individuals who have the experience and personal qualities we are seeking in our next leader. We encourage you to stay connected to the search by keeping an eye on our presidential search website: bradley.edu/offices/president/search.

If you have any candidate suggestions, please do share them with our search partners at Russell Reynolds: bradley@russellreynolds.com.

With gratitude,

Kathi Holst and Matt Vonachen
Presidential Committee Co-Chairs

About Bradley University

Bradley University is a nationally recognized, private university in Peoria, Illinois, offering more than 100 programs across five colleges, including psychology, nursing, computer science, engineering, game design, kinesiology, and more.

With a 11:1 student to faculty ratio, all students get personalized attention from their instructors who serve as mentors throughout their academic journey.