The three finalists for the 23rd president of the College of Charleston are on campus this week for a series of open forums with students, faculty and staff as well as interviews with various College stakeholders.

The College of Charleston Board of Trustees on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, announced the names of the three finalists in the search for CofC’s next president. The board voted to invite the following three finalists to participate in a series of interviews and open campus forums:

  • Michael T. Benson, president, Eastern Kentucky University
  • Andrew T. Hsu, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, University of Toledo
  • Rhonda Phillips, dean, Honors College, Purdue University

More information about each of the finalists, including bios and resumes/CVs, is available on the Presidential Search website.

Andrew T. Hsu

Rhonda Phillips

“These three finalists represent a wealth of academic experience, and they all impressed the trustees with their passion for and commitment to the liberal arts and sciences as well as their understanding and insight related to the fast-changing landscape of higher education,” Trustee Renee Buyck Romberger ’81, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, said in a message to the campus community. “They all also possess a talent for connecting their universities with area businesses and nonprofits to ensure their institutions not only remain relevant, but that they are leading voices in their respective communities.”

Michael T. Benson

Each of the three finalists is spending about a day and half on campus from Tuesday, Nov. 13, through Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. All members of the campus community will have the opportunity to attend the open candidate forums and provide feedback via an online survey. In addition, deans, administrators and other campus and volunteer leaders will meet in closed interviews with each candidate. A full schedule, including dates and times for open forums, was released on Friday, Nov. 9.

“We look forward to the campus community meeting and talking with these three extraordinary individuals,” said Romberger. “We hope you will be equally as impressed with them as we are.”