Dear Faculty Colleagues,

We are writing to share exciting news: the Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Manya Whitaker as the 15th president of Colorado College.  

Over the past year, Dr. Whitaker’s interim leadership brought clarity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to our academic mission. She provides strong relationships, institutional insight, and a grounded yet ambitious vision for CC’s future. Our decision reflects the Board’s full confidence in her ability to lead with integrity, humility, and purpose — confidence reinforced through extensive community input.

As you know, we partnered with Russell Reynolds Associates to conduct a rigorous, inclusive assessment process. Their work, combined with the Faculty Executive Committee’s independent survey sharing your perspectives, provided a multi-dimensional view of what the community values in its next president. The process provided a wealth of information, including:  

The result was a rich and multifaceted understanding of what the college community values in its next president. The feedback from all sources consistently pointed to a desire for leadership that is collaborative, academically grounded, and action-oriented. And faculty specifically requested someone who would passionately stand up for academic freedom, advocate for faculty collaboration, and authentically lift the value of the liberal arts. Dr. Whitaker embodies those qualities as well as the ability to sustain continuity and momentum.

We directly and respectfully acknowledge that many of you wanted a traditional national search. That perspective was heard and considered in our deliberations. Our decision to proceed differently was not taken lightly.

Although this approach differed from a traditional search, it engaged more voices than the typical search process. It allowed us to move with care and clarity while preserving momentum at a time of real challenge and opportunity in higher education.

Ultimately, this process was about asking the right questions, listening deeply, and aligning around what Colorado College truly needs in its next president. Your input as faculty shaped that understanding – and guided us to a leader already here, whose values and vision resonated across all audiences.

We are deeply grateful for your engagement throughout this process, and we remain committed to strengthening shared governance, transparency, and ongoing dialogue here at CC as we move forward together.

Warm regards, 

On behalf of the Colorado College Board of Trustees