Eckerd College is pleased to announce that on July 1, 2020, Damian J. Fernandez, Ph.D., will become its fifth president.
He comes to us from Penn State Abington, where he has served as the Albert and Suzanne Lord Chancellor since July 2016.
Search communications
- Letter from Board Chair Finneran (11/18/19)
- Update from Presidential Search Chair (10/23/19)
- Update from Presidential Search Chair (9/25/19)
- Update from Presidential Search Chair (8/28/19)
- Update from Presidential Search Chair (5/23/19)
- Retirement Announcement (2/13/19)
- Letter From Dr. Eastman (2/13/19)
- Letter From Board Chair Finneran (2/13/19)
For general information about the search process, contact presidentialsearch@eckerd.edu. For media inquiries, contact Robbyn Mitchell Hopewell.
About Eckerd College
An Eckerd College experience is not about learning a rigid set of facts. As one of 40 schools featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Eckerd makes it clear that its first priority is to teach students how to learn.
Eckerd, a private college of liberal arts and sciences in St. Petersburg, invites students to ThinkOutside. We take advantage of our spectacular mile of campus waterfront along Florida’s Gulf Coast for outdoor laboratories as well as an impressive array of intramural, club and intercollegiate (DII) sports and water recreation. Offerings in the arts and humanities inspire creativity and foster critical thinking and self-awareness. Every year, students and faculty travel outside the U.S. to some 40 countries for research and cultural learning. And we venture together in the Eckerd experience to think outside the conventional questions, methods and solutions—seeking to build a better world.
The best education is one that prepares you for the how, as well as the what—an education that teaches you to ThinkOutside.
Position Profile
Learn about Eckerd’s new leadership agenda and the qualities and abilities we sought in our next president. Read the profile.
Meet the search committee
The Eckerd College Presidential Search Committee features eight members of the College Board of Trustees, three faculty members, three Executive Staff members and one student representative. Committee members are tasked with reviewing candidate profiles to narrow applicants to the finalist list and conduct interviews. For questions or comments about the search process, please email presidentialsearch@eckerd.edu.
Trustees
- Ian P. Johnson ’89, Search Committee Chair, Eckerd College Board of Trustees Vice Chair
Mr. Johnson serves as the Senior Vice President of Investment Operations at Fidelity Investments and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2005. - John G. Finneran Jr. (P ’12), Eckerd College Board of Trustees Chair
Mr. Finneran serves as a Senior Advisor and Corporate Secretary for Capital One Financial Corporation and has been a member of the Board since 2009. - Norman A. Barker (P ’13), Trustee
Mr. Barker serves as the Principal at AB Bernstein and was elected as a College Trustee in 2012. - Ronice L. Barlow ’91, Trustee
Ms. Barlow serves as Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Planning and Business Development (U.S.) for Franklin Templeton Investments.
She has served as an Eckerd Trustee since 2010. - Christy Chapin Bellina ’94, Trustee
Ms. Bellina is Senior Account Executive & Marketing Lead, Softlines, at Amazon.
She was elected as a College Trustee in 2017. - George W. Off, Trustee
Mr. Off is a retired executive and resident of St. Petersburg.
He has served on the Board of Trustees since 1998. - P.N. “Bud” Risser III, Trustee
Mr. Risser is Chairman of Risser Oil Corporation and is a resident of St. Petersburg. He has served on the Eckerd Board since 1992. - Susan A. Slaugenhaupt ’85 (P ’20), Trustee
Dr. Slaugenhaupt is Scientific Director of the Massachusetts General Research Institute and Professor of Neurology (Genetics), Harvard Medical School.
She has served as a College Trustee since 2013.
Eckerd College Faculty
- Anthony Brunello (P ’19)
Professor of Political Science, Behavioral Sciences Collegium - Heather Vincent (P ’15)
Associate Professor of Classics, Letters Collegium - Laura Wetzel
Professor of Marine Science and Geosciences, Natural Sciences Collegium
Executive Staff
- Matthew Bisset
Vice President for Advancement - Valerie Gliem
Vice President for Marketing and Communications - John Sullivan
Vice President for Enrollment Management
Student
Kaitlyn Willgohs ’21
Psychology and Animal Studies
Senior Staff to the Search Committee
Lisa A. Mets
Vice President and Secretary of the College
Key dates
February 13, 2019
Dr. Donald R. Eastman III, the fourth president of Eckerd College, announces his retirement effective June 30, 2020.
March-May 2019
Consulting firm Academic Search of Washington, D.C. solicits input from the Eckerd College community to develop ideal-candidate prospectus and job requirements. Community conversations are to be held March 12–13.
June 1, 2019
Academic Search begins to accept inquiries and applications and nominations for the College’s next leader.
Fall 2019
Search Committee meets to conduct candidate interviews.
November–December 2019
New President of Eckerd College will be announced.
June 30, 2020
Dr. Donald R. Eastman III retires from office
July 1, 2020
Fifth President of Eckerd College takes office.
