Nancy A. Roseman’s announcement on Monday that she would resign as president of Dickinson College came on the heels of a comprehensive review of her leadership commissioned by the Pennsylvania college’s Board of Trustees.
In a statement on Monday, Ms. Roseman said she had “mixed emotions” about her plans to step down on June 30, after just three years as president.
“As we develop our strategic plan, which will help inform our upcoming fund-raising campaign, I realize that this time provides a natural moment of transition,” Ms. Roseman said. “It is an ideal time for the college to bring in a new president to lead these pivotal projects. And it is an ideal time for me to pursue other professional and personal goals.”
‘360' reviews, which are common for executives in the corporate world, have only in recent years come into vogue in higher education.
Ms. Roseman was not immediately made available for comment.
The departing president’s relatively brief tenure contrasts with that of her predecessor, William G. Durden, who served for 14 years at Dickinson.
Anthony Pires, chairman of the college’s Faculty Personnel Committee, said that the college announced in January that Ms. Roseman would undergo a “360" review, based on feedback from dozens of people who have observed the president’s leadership. Such evaluations, which are common for executives in the corporate world, have only in recent years come into vogue in higher education.
Mr. Durden said that, in his years as president, he never received a 360 evaluation. He added that he had no knowledge of the reasons behind Ms. Roseman’s decision.
Results Not Shared
The evaluation was concluded in the last month or so, Mr. Pires said, but results were not shared with professors. Mr. Pires, who was among those interviewed, declined to discuss his feelings about the president’s resignation or any reaction he may have heard from his colleagues.
“I’m sorry I can’t be more forthcoming,” said Mr. Pires, an associate professor of biology, “but I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to characterize a sense of the faculty.”
The review, Mr. Pires said, was led by Carol T. Christ, a consultant for the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. She is a former president of Smith College, where Ms. Roseman earned her bachelor’s degree. She also has a Ph.D. in microbiology from Oregon State University.
Before her appointment at Dickinson, Ms. Roseman was assistant to the president for special projects at Williams College and director of the Williams-Exeter Programme at the University of Oxford. She had previously served as dean of the college at Williams.
Jennifer Ward Reynolds, chair of Dickinson’s board, said in a statement that the board had “accepted President Roseman’s resignation with respect for her thoughtful decision and gratitude for her significant accomplishments.”
Ms. Reynolds was not immediately made available for an interview.
Neil B. Weissman, Dickinson’s provost and dean of the college, will serve as interim president as the board begins a national search for a permanent successor.
As Dickinson’s first female president, Ms. Roseman is among a small number of women nationwide to lead a college — only about a quarter of college presidents over all.
Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com.
