Dear Swarthmore College Community Members,

Earlier today, President Valerie Smith announced her decision to conclude her time as Swarthmore’s president at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. While we will have many occasions to celebrate Val and her extraordinary contributions to the College, I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board of Managers to express my deep gratitude for her remarkable service throughout her tenure. In every setting, she has modeled integrity, intellectual curiosity, compassion, and empathy, all in service of our shared mission. Swarthmore is forever stronger thanks to Val’s leadership.

My primary purpose in writing to you today is to share early plans for identifying her successor. This is a pivotal moment for the College and for higher education more broadly, and the Board recognizes how consequential this search will be in shaping Swarthmore’s future. We are committed to an inclusive and transparent process that welcomes input from across the community on the qualities and characteristics we should seek in Swarthmore’s 16th president.

A search committee made up of students, faculty, staff, and managers will guide those efforts. I am pleased to share that incoming Board chair Gustavo Schwed ’84 and Board member Cindi Leive ’88 have agreed to serve as co-chairs. They will work with members of the administration and faculty to identify the remaining committee members. We’ve also partnered with the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to support this work. Isaacson, Miller has extensive experience successfully recruiting highly qualified leaders across higher education, as well as a range of other nonprofit organizations.

In the coming weeks, you will receive more details about this search, including the makeup of the committee and information on opportunities to share your views. 

We are fortunate that Val will continue to lead the College with her characteristic thoughtfulness and dedication through the 2026-27 academic year, and the Board is committed to ensuring a seamless transition to her successor. We look forward to engaging with you in the months ahead as we identify the next president of Swarthmore College.

Sincerely, 

Harold “Koof” Kalkstein ’78
Chair 
Swarthmore College Board of Managers