The search for Hampden-Sydney College’s (H-SC) 25th president is underway.

The H-SC board of trustees has set March 1, 2016, as a goal to elect its new president.

In a September press release, President Christopher B. Howard announced his departure from Hampden-Sydney College and his appointment as the new president of Robert Morris University in Penn.

“Dr. Howard will be here until January 29, 2016,” said Thomas Shomo, director of marketing and communications at the college.

“Dr. Dennis Stevens, provost and dean of the faculty will serve as interim president,” he said. “I am honored to have been asked to serve as interim president after Chris Howard leaves for his new position,” said Stevens.

“I look forward to working with the students, staff and faculty here and to affirming our strong bonds with the Farmville community,” he said.

According to information on the college’s website, the presidential search committee will include 11 members, including college trustees, students, faculty and staff members.

Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm based out of Oak Brook, Ill., will be supporting the search for the new president of the college.

In a letter to the Hampden-Sydney community, Harrison said, “rest assured that our consultant will not pick the next president. That is the job of the board of trustees after receiving advice and counsel from the search committee.

Witt/Kieffer will, however, assist the search committee in preparing the leadership profile, use their contacts in higher education to recruit potential candidates, provide reference checking and background checking of candidates and assist us with the other critical tasks associated with hiring a college president,” Harrison said. 

On Oct.16 the search committee will submit a leadership profile to be considered by the board.

According to the presidential search timeline, the search consultant was on campus last week meeting with college leaders.

In early November the board of trustees is set to approve a draft leadership profile for the search.

On December 9 the search committee is set to meet on campus to finalize a list of 10-12 candidates to be interviewed by the committee. 

Candidate interview will begin in mid-January.

In February final interviews with the top three to four candidates is set to take place, and on March 1 the college is set to elect its next president.