Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter is a finalist for a New Jersey college’s 2021 presidential search, according to an announcement from the school’s website.
Ramapo College of New Jersey, located near Newark, New Jersey, is searching for its fifth president. The college is about three and a half hours northeast of Shippensburg. According to the college’s website, current President Peter P. Mercer announced in September 2019 his plans to step down June 30, 2021.
Since then, Ramapo’s Board of Trustees began a national search for the college’s next president. Officials said there was a pool of 103 candidates vying for the position. According to Ramapo’s website, the presidential search committee met and “unanimously and enthusiastically” recommended four finalists in December 2020.
The finalists are:
- Laurie Carter, Shippensburg University President
- Maria Gallo, Delaware Valley University President
- Cindy R. Jebb, Brigadier General United States Army, Dean of Academic Board/Chief Academic Officer at the United States Military Academy at West Point
- Lisa Vollendorf, Special Advisor for Academic Planning and Operational Continuity, Division of Academic and Student Affairs, California State University: Office of the Chancellor
In a statement, Carter said, “This is an opportunity in my home county that I am exploring but have not made any decisions. I remain committed to our students and their success.”
Carter is scheduled to virtually visit the campus Feb. 10 and 11 at which time officials will hold a town hall and presentation forum.
“The meetings will provide [an] opportunity for college stakeholders to get to know the candidates and for the candidates to get to know the Ramapo community,” the website said.
Ramapo College was established in 1969 and is “the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning and international and intercultural understanding,” according to its website. About 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend the college, the website said.
SU officials selected Carter to be the university’s 17th president in May 2017. Carter, who then was serving as the executive vice president and university council at Eastern Kentucky University, officially started in August 2017. Carter also previously served in various positions at The Juilliard School and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
SU began its search for its next president following the retirement of President George “Jody” Harpster in January 2017.
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