Dear Members of the Faculty and Staff,

As I reported in February, our Board of Trustees approved a budget-neutral proposal to establish in-house legal counsel in recognition of our effort to most effectively and efficiently address the expanding complexities and breadth of legal matters we encounter in the current landscape of higher education. The person serving in this position will be an engaged partner and advisor as we navigate Puget Sound’s future, implement our strategic plan and embark on new initiatives, and proactively assess and manage risk and regulatory compliance.

I write today with an update on the search for our Vice President and University Counsel. A search advisory committee has been formed and charged, and is working closely with the search firm Isaacson, Miller. Following input from many, the committee finalized the position profile, and networking and sourcing of candidates are underway to develop a strong applicant pool. Candidates will be vetted over the summer, semi-finalists will be identified and interviewed in early fall, and finalists interviewed and invited to campus in October.

This position is vital for the success of the university going forward, and I especially want to recognize and thank members of the search advisory committee for their work in helping us attract and recruit best-fit candidates:

  • Dave Beers, Vice President for University Relations
  • Sarah Comstock, Associate Dean of Students
  • Janet Hallman ’84, Associate Vice President for Financial Planning and Analysis
  • John Hickey M.B.A.’83, Associate Vice President for Business Services
  • Laura Inveen ’76, Trustee
  • Chris Kendall, Philip M. Phibbs Assistant Professor of Politics and Government
  • Cindy Matern P’09, P’11, Associate Vice President for Human Resources/Career & Employment Services
  • Sherry Mondou, Executive Vice President and CFO, search chair

If you know individuals who would be strong candidates for us to consider, please share the profile with them and direct their inquiries to the search consultants listed at the end of the profile.

Thank you for your assistance and support. Please know it is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Isiaah
Isiaah Crawford, Ph.D. | President