President

Union College, a historic and distinguished residential liberal arts college, seeks a collaborative, innovative, and strategic leader to serve as its 20th president. Union has been a leader in the integration of the liberal arts, science, and engineering for more than two centuries, and with its unique history and distinctive assets, the College is exceptionally well-positioned as a national leader in redefining what it means to be liberally educated.

Founded in 1795 and located in Schenectady, New York, Union is one of the oldest colleges in the nation and the first to redefine traditional liberal arts education with modern languages, science, and engineering early in its history. As technology advances and the boundaries between disciplines are increasingly blurred, Union College’s integrated approach to liberal arts and engineering with exceptional faculty, motivated students, and supportive alumni provides the next president an outstanding platform to build upon a long history of innovation and propel the College toward a bold future. The next president of Union will inherit an ambitious and innovative institution, ever committed to its founding mission and ready to push itself in new ways to meet the challenges and opportunities of the present and future.

Under the leadership of President David Harris, Union has strengthened its reputation as a leading liberal arts college, enhanced its academic program, advanced its work in equity and inclusion, improved its financial and administrative infrastructure, deepened its ties to the Schenectady community, and completed the largest fundraising campaign in Union’s history.

The next president will bring a deep commitment to the integration of liberal arts, science, and engineering and will boldly seize the opportunity to secure Union’s place as the national leader in integrated liberal arts education. The president will galvanize the Union academic community, apply financial acumen to ensure long term financial sustainability, and be able to astutely navigate the changing landscape of higher education. The president will embrace Union’s culture of community by building meaningful and personal relationships with students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni and will serve as the College’s ambassador to local and national audiences. In addition, the next president will be a change agent with the ability to execute ongoing strategic objectives, building on the College’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, and the ability to imagine and inspire a future for Union that honors the past while charting an ambitious course for the future. 

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be submitted below. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Keight Tucker Kennedy and Cati Mitchell-Crossley are leading this search with Karen McPhedran. 

Union College is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to student and workforce diversity.

Union College is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s).

Union College’s Strategic Plan highlights the role of diversity in providing an effective education for the 21st century at the heart of our mission and vision for the College. Diversifying the student body, the faculty, the administration, the staff, and the curriculum requires a commitment to honor our mission and advance our goals. Union provides a blend of intellectual, social, and cultural opportunities to facilitate the integrated academic, social, and personal development of a diverse community. We value and are committed to a host of diverse populations and cultures, including, but not limited to, those based on race, religion, ability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and national origin.