The Presidential Search Committee, established by the Northwestern University Board of Trustees, is charged with working in close partnership with Spencer Stuart and engaging the broader Northwestern community to identify and recommend a candidate for Northwestern’s next president.
The Committee responsibilities include:
Gathering input from University stakeholders
Approving a formal presidential position profile
Reviewing and interviewing candidates
Selecting a finalist to recommend to the Board of Trustees for election as Northwestern’s next president
Committee Members
The Committee will include representation of University Trustees, faculty, students, staff, and alumni leadership. Committee members were nominated by members of the Northwestern community and selected by Search Committee leadership.
Steve Cahillane ’87 (’17, ’19 P) Chair of the Search Committee
Courtney Armstrong ’93, ’97 JD, MBA
Heather B. Baker ’92 (’30 P)
Peter J. Barris ’73 (’11, ’18 P) Chair of the Board
Jane Hoffman ’86 (’12, ’21 P)
Adam Karr ’93 (’25, ’27 P) Vice Chair of the Board
Jennifer Leischner Litowitz ’91 (’22 P, ’27 P)
Milton M. Morris ’92, ’04 MBA
Kimberly Querrey (’22, ’23 P)
Patrick G. Ryan, Jr. ’97 JD, MBA
David Sachs ’81 (’15, ’18 P)
Mike Shannon ’83 MBA (’10, ’15 P) Vice Chair of the Board
Tim Sullivan (’25 P)
Ian Hurd Professor, Political Science Director, Roberta Buffett International Studies Program Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Susan Quaggin Chair, Department of Medicine Director, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine Professor, Medicine (Nephrology and Hypertension) Feinberg School of Medicine
Ted Sargent Lynn Hopton Davis and Greg Davis Professor of Chemistry Executive Director, Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Natasha Trethewey Board of Trustees Professor of English Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Jackson Scott Gordwin ’25 JD Candidate, Pritzker School of Law
Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, Student Affairs
Kristin McDonnell ’85 (’21, ’23, ’25 P) President, Northwestern Alumni Association Ex Officio Trustee
Bill Osborn ’69, ’73 MBA, ’18 H Former Chair of the Board Life Trustee
Patrick G. Ryan ’59, ’09 H (’97, ’00 P) Former Chair of the Board Life Trustee