Presidential Search
NATIONAL-LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Chicago, Illinois
PRESIDENT
Innovation, Access, Excellence
National-Louis University (NLU) seeks a strategic, innovative, and collaborative leader as its next President. Building on its 123-year history as one of the nation’s most innovative institutions of higher education, NLU is poised to help solve the most significant educational challenges facing society today. These challenges require a President to lead the University with a clearly articulated and shared sense of purpose at a time when American education requires innovative solutions. NLU has been built around a commitment to excellence in educating educators and leaders for other institutions and a determination to include those who have often been excluded. NLU’s history and current strengths provide a strong foundation for continuing to lead in these critical areas.
NLU serves some 12,000 students in three Colleges with programs from the baccalaureate to the doctoral level primarily on five campuses in the Chicago metropolitan area and three other campuses in Southern Wisconsin and Florida. NLU has a highly diverse student body and a long tradition of serving urban, immigrant, and minority populations. Its programs are highly regarded for the quality of instruction, innovation, a cohort model with small classes that create strong ties between students and faculty, and flexibility that speaks to the needs of its largely adult-learner student population, most of whom study part-time while continuing their careers. NLU has a full-time faculty of approximately 260 and an operating budget of $83 million.
The new President will lead the institution in addressing a set of opportunities that NLU faces at a pivotal moment in its history. Its largest unit, the National College of Education, has long been recognized for preparing teachers and school leaders with progressive, innovative, student-centered programs, especially at the graduate level. Providing undergraduate and graduate degrees to working adults in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Management and Business in multiple locations as well as online has led to a focus on how best to assure both quality and access. In the case of all three colleges, competitors (public, private, and for-profit) are expanding, offering lower tuition and scheduling flexibility, and emphasizing online delivery. Competition for students and resources is intense, especially in this difficult economic environment.
The President will lead the University through an assessment of the challenges and opportunities facing NLU and develop an updated strategic plan and operational policies that position the institution to thrive, offering distinctive programs with strong appeal. S/he will work collaboratively with the Board, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to focus the University’s efforts and resources to build on its strengths in educating the next generation of leaders for education, business, and the broader society.
The new President will be an articulate and visible presence in the University, Chicago, and other local communities, building partnerships and strengthening relationships with educational and other local institutions, businesses, foundations, alumni, and local, state and federal governments. The successful candidate will be a strategic, innovative and results-oriented leader with a track record of success -- setting clear goals, inspiring people, managing effectively, and raising funds. It is desirable that this individual holds a terminal degree and shows other evidence of a deep appreciation for teaching and learning.
National-Louis University has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist the Search Committee in its identification and review of candidates. Inquiries, referrals, and resumes should be sent with a cover letter in confidence to:
Martha Brest, Managing Associate
Isaacson, Miller
334 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Email: 3883@imsearch.com
Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.
National-Louis University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Access/Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its students, faculty and staff. NLU is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community and strongly encourages all qualified individuals to apply.
For a more detailed description of the University and the presidency, please see the presidential profile.