Limestone To Begin Interviewing Executive Search Firms

The list of potential executive search firms that will assist Limestone College in selecting its next President has been narrowed down to four, according to Board of Trustees Vice Chairman David Riggins.

Limestone’s 13-member Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Riggins, met on Thursday, May 11, to review information about 10 executive search firms being considered to assist with the comprehensive national pursuit for the next President.

The four finalists include AGB Search (Washington, DC); Buffkin/Baker (Nashville, TN & Winston Salem, NC); Coleman Lew & Associates (Charlotte, NC); and Isaacson, Miller (Boston, MA).

Limestone’s Presidential Search Committee will interview the firms in the coming weeks, with a final decision expected to come in late June. The successful firm will represent the College in identifying a diverse candidate pool from which to hire Limestone’s next President.

Dr. Walt Griffin, who has led Limestone College since 1992, announced in April his plans to retire later this year Dr. Griffin will continue to serve as Limestone’s President through the end of the 2017 fall semester which concludes with graduation ceremonies December 14-16.

Once the job description has been finalized and officially posted, candidates not identified by the executive search firm can apply by sending their resumes directly to Limestone College. Those resumes will then be forwarded to the search firm as part of the vetting process, Riggins said.

“It’s vitally important that Limestone partners with a search firm that has vast experience in identifying candidates for leadership roles in higher education,” Riggins explained. “The firm will consult with our Presidential Search Committee to research Limestone’s leadership needs, recruit a pool of candidates, screen and evaluate those candidates, and help with the Presidential transition. Hiring someone to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Griffin will certainly be a tall order, but our committee is dedicated to assisting the Board of Trustees in identifying a leader that can successfully take Limestone to even greater heights.”

Riggins added that the executive search firm will conduct forums for Limestone’s internal and external constituents in July and August, and interviews with prospective candidates will begin in late August.

The next meeting of Limestone’s Presidential Search Committee will be held on May 30.

(Article by Charles Wyatt, Director of Communications)