PRESIDENT
FORT LEWIS COLLEGE
Fort Lewis College (FLC) invites nominations and applications for the position of president. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the president is responsible for shaping the vision and strategic direction of the college. The new president will assume the role at a pivotal moment in the institution’s history as the college pursues the ambitious goals articulated in the strategic plan. In its next president, FLC seeks a visionary leader who will continue to champion the college’s diversity, innovation, and economic development mission.
The new president is expected to embrace FLC’s unique role as a Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution and as a convener for the Four Corners region's arts, sciences, and economic vitality. The next president will build on FLC's strong foundation while fostering educational excellence and expanding the college’s role in regional, state, and national growth and development.
Fort Lewis College is home to approximately 3,400 students, more than half of whom are students of color, primarily Native American and Hispanic/Latinx. In addition, 36% of the students are Pell-eligible, and 44% are first-generation. This year, FLC’s student body represented 113 Native American Tribes and Alaskan villages, making it one of the most diverse campuses in Colorado. The college’s faculty of 240-plus members are nationally recognized for their innovative teaching and research, securing over $38 million in grants last year alone.
Fort Lewis College plays a vital role in workforce development and regional collaboration through initiatives like Opportunity NOW, a statewide grant program connecting students to internships, job training, and career opportunities. In addition, the FLC Foundation has secured unprecedented support, raising nearly $21 million in 2023-2024 alone. These funds have supported significant projects, including the CU Nursing Fort Lewis College Collaborative, the new Katz School of Business, and reconciliation initiatives tied to FLC’s historical legacy.
The college’s next president will bring significant professional accomplishments that present ample alignment to meet future challenges and opportunities of the college. In its next president, the college seeks an authentic, transparent, relational leader with enthusiasm and optimism for the work ahead. This will require an action-oriented, bold, and entrepreneurial leader who will be an unwavering champion of students, faculty, staff, and the college. The ideal candidate will be a fiscally minded, results-driven leader who has the demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with various constituencies; proactively engage with internal and external communities; actively pursue fundraising and partnership opportunities; and promote the college externally. A proven record of successful, progressive leadership in a complex organization, a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a demonstrated understanding and appreciation for the college’s diverse culture and history are required. Dynamic leaders from mission-aligned organizations outside of higher education are encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration.
As the search for FLC’s next president begins, the Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee remain committed to selecting a leader who will continue to uphold the college’s mission of academic excellence, inclusivity, and community partnership.
Inquiries, nominations, and applications for the next president of Fort Lewis College will be considered in full confidence. Applications should include a letter of candidacy that responds to the leadership profile and the desired attributes for the president and a résumé or vita. Prospective candidates should submit materials by January 20, 2025, to ensure full consideration.
Please submit nominations, inquiries, and confidential applications to the team at Buffkin / Baker: Ann Yates, Partner, and Pelema Ellis, Ph.D., Associate Partner at
flcpresident@buffkinbaker.com.
For more information and to view the presidential search profile, please visit FLC’s https://www.fortlewis.edu/presidentialsearch/.
Fort Lewis College does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation (including transgender status), physical or mental disability, marriage to a co-worker, or retaliation for engaging in protected activity, political beliefs, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information, as is required by applicable laws, regulations, and executive orders.