Col. Mark C. Anarumo, USAF named Norwich University’s 24th president

The Norwich University Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to appoint Col. Mark C. Anarumo, USAF as the 24th President of Norwich University. This appointment comes after President Richard W. Schneider, RADM, USCGR (Ret.) announced his decision to retire on May 31, 2020, following 28 years of service to the university.

“Norwich University offers traditional students and adult learners a wealth of opportunities in a prestigious, supportive, and yet demanding academic environment. I am honored that I have been selected as its 24th president. With Norwich’s distinguished history, strength, and bright future, my family and I look forward to being part of the campus community. The depth of devotion of the faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, students, and Board of Trustees inspires us. I look forward to our collaborative leadership for the future of this inspiring, globally positioned university for the 21st century.”Col. Mark C. Anarumo

Livestream of press conference—Tuesday, January 28, 2020

About Col. Mark C. Anarumo

Col. Mark C. Anarumo is the director and permanent professor for the Center for Character and Leadership Development, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. The Center provides leadership, honor, and character education to a Cadet Wing of more than 4,000 officer candidates. The center advises honor education programs and execution of the Cadet Honor Code, hosts several large forums per year including the annual National Character and Leadership Symposium, and conducts leading-edge research, instruction and assessment for advancing the 21st century profession of arms. The center is integral to the academy’s mission of graduating officers of character and integrating the Air Force’s core values of “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do” for faculty, staff, and cadets.

Col. Anarumo's previous assignment was vice commander of the 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, where he was responsible for approximately 5,000 U.S. military, civilian and contractor personnel and the combat readiness of U.S. Air Force units at Incirlik and four geographically separated units in Turkey.

He entered the Air Force in 1994 as the Distinguished Graduate of Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Rutgers University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice degree. He earned a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice in 1999 and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice in 2005 — also from Rutgers University. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2012.

Learn more:

Read Col. Mark C. Anarumo's curriculum vitae (PDF 223KB) and watch video of his town hall forum from November at Mack Hall Auditorium.

www.norwich.edu/24

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January 28, 2020

TO: Norwich University Community Members

FROM: Alan DeForest, ’75, Chairman, Norwich University Board of Trustees

Dear Norwich students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends,

The Norwich University Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to appoint Col. Mark C. Anarumo, USAF as the 24th President of Norwich University. This appointment comes after President Richard W. Schneider, RADM, USCGR (Ret.) announced his decision to retire on May 31st, 2020 following 28 years of service to the university. Col. Anarumo will become the University’s President effective June 1st, 2020.

The Board of Trustees is very excited to name Col. Anarumo as our next president. He has demonstrated throughout his distinguished academic career and military service the type of strong, effective and enlightened leadership which will ensure that Norwich University has a worthy successor to President Schneider. We are confident that we have selected an exceptional individual whose intellect, vision and values will inspire our University to reach even greater levels of excellence in its third century of service to America.

Col. Anarumo is the Director and Permanent Professor for the Center for Character and Leadership Development, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. The Center provides leadership, honor, and character education to a Cadet Wing of more than 4,000 officer candidates. The center is integral to the Academy’s mission of graduating officers of character and integrating the Air Force’s core values of “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do” for faculty, staff, and cadets.

Col. Anarumo's previous assignment was Vice Commander of the 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, where he was responsible for approximately 5,000 U.S. military, civilian and contractor personnel and the combat readiness of U.S. Air Force units at Incirlik and four geographically separated units in Turkey.

He entered the Air Force in 1994 as the Distinguished Graduate of Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Rutgers University.

“Norwich University offers traditional students and adult learners a wealth of opportunities in a prestigious, supportive, and yet demanding academic environment. I am honored that I have been selected as its 24th president. With Norwich’s distinguished history, strength, and bright future, my family and I look forward to being part of the campus community. The depth of devotion of the faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, students, and Board of Trustees inspires us. I look forward to our collaborative leadership for the future of this inspiring, globally positioned university for the 21st century.”Col. Mark C. Anarumo

The Board of Trustees would like to express our sincere appreciation to Search Committee Chair and Trustee Phil Soucy ’73, and the entire search committee of trustees, faculty, staff, students and community members, who together with our consulting firm, Academic Search, provided their inspiring direction and tireless commitment over the 14 months of choosing four final candidates for the board to interview. The result is a president well positioned to lead a distinctive university with a 200-year legacy that enjoys tremendous momentum and provides a transformative impact in Vermont, nationally and globally.

Alan DeForest, ’75, chairman, Norwich University Board of Trustees

A livestream press conference and community reception in Mack Hall to welcome President-elect Anarumo and his family to Norwich University will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 28, 2020. If you could not join us, the livestream will be archived and available.

We hope you will join us in welcoming Col. Anarumo in celebrating this milestone moment for the university.

Livestream of press conference

Norwich University's Presidential Search Overview

Norwich University, the oldest Senior Military College (SMC) in the country and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), invited inquiries, nominations and applications to become the University’s 24th president.

Four finalists emerged to lead the University and its unique learning environment, which combines the resolve of a military education with a challenging liberal arts and professional education. In November, the finalists spent two days on campus, meeting with time the university community and offering information about their background, qualifications, and experiences. On December 6, the Presidential Search Committee met for the final time to summarize their observations on each candidate. The Board of Trustees met January 21-25, 2020, in San Francisco. On January 25, the board met to assess, discuss, and make the final decision on which candidate would be offered the opportunity to become the next president.

Application and Nomination Process

Academic Search, Inc. aided in the search for Norwich’s 24th president.

To nominate a candidate for its 24th president, Norwich University conducted a nationwide search, guided by Academic Search, Inc. After a call for nominations, a search committee was formed in fall 2018. In March 2019, consultants met with internal and select external constituent groups on campus and to elicit feedback on desired credentials skills and experiences sought in the next president. Confidential online surveys were sent to external constituent groups (alumni, selective donors, friends of the institution) and after a series of meetings, the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees approved an advertising plan and the position was advertised in print and on social media platforms. Also, a link was placed on the norwich.edu website to take nominations. Academic Search established a password-protected website containing all application materials accessible only to the Search Committee members.

In September 2019, Search Committee members submitted to Academic Search a list of “top 10” (number approximate) candidates of interest; candidates were then chosen for neutral site interviews. In October, finalists were chosen for campus visits and interviewed off-site. In November, finalists visited campus for two days, meeting with the community and taking questions in open forums.

In January 2020, Search Committee Finalist Candidate Assessment Report submitted to the Board of Trustees for their review and then finalist candidates were invited to meet with Board of Trustees in San Francisco. Trustees then chose the next president.

Presidential Search Committee

The composition and selection of the Norwich University Presidential Search Committee initiated in October 2018 through a self-nomination process of prospective candidates vetted by Norwich shared governance bodies representing Norwich current students, faculty, staff, trustees and volunteer board members and the greater public at large. Each governing body made final recommendations to the Chair of the Norwich University Board of Trustees charged with structuring the Presidential Search Committee.

The following individuals served on the Presidential Search Committee:

Larry Costa ’80, trustee; Maxine Grad, trustee; Bobbi Haney ’79, trustee; Larry Lang ’77, Trustee; Bill Lasky ’69, trustee; Miles Prentice, trustee, Phil Soucy ’73, trustee, committee chair; Landers Symes ’84, trustee; Tom Leavitt, president/CEO, Northfield Savings Bank, Community representative; Cadet Ethan Hagstrom ’20, Cadet representative; Blaine Hawkins, trustee; Sarah Kazmierczak ’20, civilian student representative; Janet Mara ’05, senior director of administration, College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, staff representative; Tony Johnson ’94, chair, College of Liberal Arts Visiting Committee (Board of Fellows), COL. Frank Leija, USA M’06; Lauren Wobby ’84, chief financial officer, Cabinet representative; Bob Young ’00, trustee; Allison Crowson M’06, academic program manager, College of Graduate and Continuing Studies representative, Professor Lea Williams – English, College of Liberal Arts representative, Professor Robert Knapik – physics, College of Science and Mathematics representative; Professor Michael Prairie ’83 – engineering, College of Professional Schools representative

Liaison:

David Whaley
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Committee Liaison

Consultants:

Andrea Warren Hamos, Ph.D.
Vice President for Consulting Operations and Senior Consultant
Academic Search Inc.

Maya Kirkhope
Senior Consultant
Academic Search Inc.

Presidential Search Process Frequently Asked Questions

Were there regular updates on the search?

Yes; the chair of the Search Committee provided regular updates to the Norwich University community at critical points in the search.

What was the role of the Search Committee chair?

The chair was the Search Committee’s official spokesperson, provided regular updates to the Norwich community and addressed questions or concerns from members of the community throughout the search process.

Were internal candidates treated any differently than external candidates?

No. Internal candidates were vetted in the same way as external candidates, based on criteria laid out in the Presidential Search Profile. The Committee very carefully selected the strongest candidates, either internal or external, for further consideration based on the presidential search qualifications and experiences.

Why was confidentiality so important in the search process?

Many of our candidates held key positions at other institutions and organizations and would apply only if confidentiality was guaranteed. Search Committee members signed an agreement securing confidentiality for all discussions and deliberations related to the presidential search. For your information, a copy of the confidentiality statement guiding the work of the Presidential Search Committee is available on the Presidential Search website.

How did members of the Norwich University community participate in the search process?

Many members of the Norwich University community participated in one-one, small-group and large-group meetings consultants held on campus in early March. The consultants also gathered valuable information from the surveys that were distributed to internal and external constituent groups on the skills, qualifications and attributes sought in the next president. All of the information gathered was particularly valuable to the search consultants during the recruiting phase of the search process.

When finalist candidates were selected, members of the Norwich community were strongly encouraged to meet with each of the finalist candidates. In addition to a campuswide forum, finalist candidates met with all key constituent groups. There were multiple opportunities to meet with the candidates. An online feedback form was distributed to all individuals who met with the finalist candidates. Feedback from the Norwich community was shared with the Search Committee as it deliberated on each of the finalist candidates.

When will our next president take office?

The next president is expected to take office June 1, 2020. The new president may be visible and meet with individuals in late spring, but the official start date is June 1, 2020.