October 10, 2025

Dear UD Community,

I hope you're enjoying the crisp start of the Fall season and the many exciting activities happening across the University of Delaware campus. I’m writing to share the latest updates on the presidential appointment process following my last communication in September.

Our initial efforts have centered on gathering broad community input through both listening sessions and a campus-wide survey. I’m pleased to report that all 12 listening sessions have now concluded, and we’ve received over 150 survey responses to date. According to WittKieffer, the firm that is partnering with the University on this assessment, this level of engagement is significant and offers a rich understanding of what our community values in UD’s next president. Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. If you haven’t yet had the chance, there’s still time — the survey remains open until Oct. 13.

The Presidential Appointment Advisory Committee (PAAC) has convened twice, providing both input to the overall process as well as their own perspective on the University’s vision for the future and the leadership qualities needed to guide us forward. This information was subsequently shared with the Board of Trustees for additional input.

Emerging themes from UD community input highlight the following priorities for our next leader:

• Develop and execute a strategic vision through inclusive leadership
• Ensure financial stability and position UD for sustainable growth
• Strengthen academic excellence and articulate UD’s strategic identity
• Foster a culture of engagement through visible, inclusive, and collaborative leadership
• Lead with strategic external engagement and advocacy
• Champion a student-centered approach to elevate the UD experience

Our next step is to synthesize the feedback into a scoping document that will outline the expectations and key priorities for our next president, as well as attributes and experiences required to lead the University into its next chapter.

As we collectively move into the next phase of our work, I will do my best to keep you informed. Your voice matters — please consider completing the survey if you have not done so already. Your insights will help shape not only the appointment of our next president, but the future of our University.

Warm regards,

Terri Kelly Chair, University of Delaware Board of Trustees