October 1, 2024 – Philander Smith University (PSU) is continuing the search for its 15th president. Earlier this year, the PSU Board of Trustees (BOTs) and the Presidential Advisory Search Committee begin taking steps to conduct a nationwide search, for the institutions new leader.
According to the university website, a professional search consultant was retained to assist the Committee in presenting a list of semi-finalists to the BOTs by May 2024. However, in August, PSU announced the appointment of Dr. Maurice Gipson as its Interim President and CEO.
As of today, PSU has retained TM2 Executive Search Firm, the nation’s only executive talent solutions firm dedicated exclusively to assisting HBCUs to lead the search.
According to the presidential profile released by TM2 on LinkedIn, the ideal candidate will embody the core values of the university, which include a strong commitment to social justice, academic excellence, and student success.
Additionally, PSU is seeking candidates who are transformative visionaries with a record of success in higher education leadership. The next president will be responsible for steering the university toward long-term growth and sustainability by fostering innovation, advancing academic excellence, and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The search committee, composed of a diverse group of stakeholders—including board members, faculty, alumni, and students—has been formed to ensure a thorough and inclusive process.
The selected leader will assume the role in the summer of 2025. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application materials by November 1, 2024.
Qualified and visionary candidates are invited to submit their application materials to: PSUPresident@tm2search.com.
For confidential inquiries, please reach out to:
Dr. Dakota Doman, Managing Principal at Dakota.Doman@tm2search.com
Dr. Amanda Washington Lockett, PhD, Principal at Amanda.Lockett@tm2search.com, or
Jessica Horton, MS, Associate Principal at Jessica.Horton@tm2search.com
About Philander Smith University
Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Philander Smith University is a private, historically Black institution founded in 1877 with deep ties to the United Methodist Church. Philander Smith University is a founding member of the United Negro College Fund and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
About TM2 Executive Search Firm
Established in 2016, TM2 Executive Search, a subsidiary of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, provides retained search and leadership development services designed to help build and develop sustainable executive leadership and governing boards at HBCUs. Specifically, their searches focus on the following positions: Board of Trustees, Presidents and Chancellors, Provost, Deans, and the Executive level of institutions in the Black College Community.