Presidential Search Update - Fall 2022 Update

Dear members of the Fordham Prep community, 

I hope that you all had a summer filled with friends, family, and time to rest and rejuvenate.  I and my fellow members of the presidential search committee did the same.  However, we also spent considerable hours this summer preparing for the fall.  After weeks of diligent and detailed work,  I am excited to provide an update on our search for the Prep’s next president. 

I am proud to say that the opportunity drew tremendous interest.  We considered a deep candidate pool which included many individuals who currently hold a president or Head of School position.  Our search professionals at Educational Directions noted that the quality of the applicant pool was extremely strong. This is particularly impressive given the current reality of recruiting candidates for school leadership. It speaks to the caliber of our Catholic Jesuit community and the reputation that Fordham Prep enjoys nationally. 

Recently, the search committee reviewed applicant files and collectively decided to interview a select group of leaders from this outstanding pool.  Each offered broad skills, talents, a unique vision, and lived experiences. After thoughtful deliberation, the search committee reached unanimous consensus to invite three finalists to visit the Rose Hill Campus and spend some time in our community.   None of the finalists is a Jesuit priest.

It is abundantly clear to the search committee that each of the finalists shares our Ignatian values and exhibits a deep commitment to their Roman Catholic faith.  At the present time, each finalist is the head of their respective academic institution.  

Because Fordham Prep is a Jesuit institution within the Jesuit U.S.A. East Province, the Provincial has been made aware of our finalists.  It is their belief that each would be an excellent choice to lead Fordham Prep.  It is important to note that the Provincial, along with the Board of Trustees, will approve the hiring of our next president.

Each finalist will be on campus for individual two-day visits beginning Wednesday, September 28. During their visit, finalists will meet in-person with current members of the student body, faculty, staff, and administration as well as the search committee and members of the Board of Trustees. This is an opportunity for our community to learn more about each finalist and for each finalist to learn more about us.  

Finalist #1 Visit - September 28-29
Finalist #2 Visit - October 2-3
Finalist #3 Visit - October 3-4 

A detailed schedule for each visit will be available to the faculty, administration, and staff in short order.  There will also be an opportunity for the wider Prep community to meet these individuals. We will host a virtual meeting via Zoom with each candidate that is open to current and past parents and alumni.  The schedule for each is below.

Finalist #1 Zoom - Thursday, September 29; 5:30 pm
Finalist #2 Zoom - Monday, October 3; 5:30 pm
Finalist #3 Zoom - Tuesday, October 4; 5:30 pm

You must register in advance for each of these sessions.  Registration can be found on the Prep’s Presidential Transition website.  There you will also be able to submit a feedback form which will be shared with the search committee.

We will release the names of the three finalists on Wednesday, September 28, on the Presidential Transition website.

Please note that the search committee will be thoroughly investigating references for each finalist. Due to the serious nature of this process and professional courtesies we must provide to the candidates, we ask that you allow the search committee, and the search committee only, to conduct these reference checks. In keeping with the respectful and professional protocol we have agreed to with the candidates, if you know someone whom would be appropriate for the committee to speak with, please contact our search consultants so we may reach out to the person directly.

This is an exciting time for our community.  We look forward to hosting these exceptional leaders on the historic Rose Hill Campus in a few short weeks and completing our fiduciary responsibility to name the Prep’s new president in the coming months.  

I ask that you continue to keep the members of the search committee and the finalists in your prayers. 

For the search committee, 

Mario Ciampi '78
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Chairman of the Presidential Search Committee