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Presidential Search

National Search

The national search effort will be led by Deborah F. Tobias, chairperson of the Board of Trustees, with the support of an advisory committee including trustees, Marianists, faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Search Firm

Isaacson, Miller, an executive search firm with deep expertise in higher education and considerable experience working with UD, will assist the committee in their work. The national search is open to internal and external candidates.

Search Advisory Committee
  • Deborah Tobias, chair of the UD board of trustees (chair of search advisory committee)
  • Brother Tim Driscoll, S.M, vice president for mission and rector and member of UD's board of trustees (co-chair of search advisory committee)
  • Ryan Allen, executive director, UD Learning Teaching Center and UD Center for Online Learning
  • Jackie Arnold, president of UD's academic senate; professor in UD's School of Education and Health Sciences
  • Tom Barker, UD board of trustees
  • Mary Boosalis, community representative, past UD board of trustees chair
  • Trevor Collier, dean, School of Business Administration
  • Kenya Crosson, associate professor and associate dean for faculty and staff affairs in UD's School of Engineering
  • David Dunn, director of initiatives, innovation and collaboration, UDRI
  • Mike Herr, UD board of trustees
  • Andy Horner, UD executive vice president for business and administrative services
  • Arabella Loera, third-year UD law student and 2023 UD graduate
  • Emily Lopez-Espino, junior undergraduate, UD health and wellness major
  • Lisa Payne Wansley, UD board of trustees
  • Leslie Picca, executive director of the University Honors Program; professor in UD's College of Arts and Sciences
  • Brother Ed Violett, S.M., UD board of trustees and incoming provincial of the Marianists of the United States
  • Joe Weidenbach, UD board of trustees
  • Sharon White, UD board of trustees and president of the UD Alumni Association
We embrace ... change not to leave our past behind, but, like Father Chaminade, to find the "new means" to meet the challenges of our time with clarity and conviction.
Deborah F. Tobias
Chairperson, Board of Trustees
Presidential Search Process and Timeline

February 2026: Search Announcement and Committee Selection
  • Eric F. Spina, UD's 19th president, announced his retirement (Feb. 6, 2026). 
  • Update on presidential transition and announcement of search firm (via email on Feb. 10, 2026).
  • Announcement of presidential search advisory committee and dates of listening sessions (via email on Feb. 24, 2026).

March and April 2026: Listening Sessions

Community listening sessions, held by the presidential search committee and Isaacson, Miller, are a critical first step in defining what characteristics our community desires in the next president. Community input will directly inform the candidate profile used to recruit and evaluate candidates.

  • Student session: 8-9 a.m., Thursday, March 12, in KU Ballroom
  • Staff session: 9:30-10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 12, in KU Ballroom
  • Faculty session: 11 a.m.-noon, Thursday, March 12, in KU Ballroom
  • Virtual session: 3-4 p.m., Wednesday, April 15 (For faculty and staff who were unable to attend the in-person sessions.)

Summer 2027: Welcoming the New President
  • New president takes office July 2027.