Dear HUC-JIR Community,

On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I would like to bring you up to date on the Search process. Below is the presentation I made to the HUC-JIR Board of Governors at its meeting in Cincinnati on October 21, 2018:

We have been delighted by the amount of interest in the position by qualified candidates. Our Committee credits this to the College-Institute’s past leadership, Rabbi Aaron Panken’s ability to put in place much of his strategic planning vision, and the dedication of staff, faculty, students, and Board of Governors.

Those who were nominated, whether they became candidates or not, were universally honored and humbled to be asked to consider this important role.

We have seen a rich array of traditional candidates, as well as those with a diverse set of experiences and talents. We, of course, also have gender diversity in our group of candidates.

Our Search Committee, along with our professional search firm, Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, is working very well together and diligently assessing candidates’ qualifications. I am so impressed with their knowledge and passion for HUC-JIR and their respect for each other. We have had several sessions on gender and unconscious bias training, both in person and by webinar, by a firm that specializes in guiding organizations on issues of diversity, inclusion, and bias. This bias awareness training has had a favorable impact on the integrity of the Search and further ensures an equitable process for all.

The Prospectus for the Search for the 13th President of HUC-JIR was well received by both internal and external members of our community, as well as by the candidates themselves. This document has guided the Search Committee’s understanding of the qualities and skills needed to lead this venerable institution.

We have been following a very strict timeline since our first meeting on June 5, 2018 and are on track to conclude by the end of the calendar year, as planned. We have finished first round interviews, are beginning to reference candidates and will soon start our second round of interviews.

The Search Committee members want to thank the Board of Governors and the HUC-JIR community for their support and their nominations. We appreciate all for trusting the process and understanding the need for confidentiality and sensitivity for this Search process. We wish to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of the staff at HUC-JIR, particularly our Vice President for Program and Business Development, Liz Squadron. Special thanks go to Rabbi David Ellenson, Interim President and Chancellor Emeritus, and Sue Hochberg, Chair of the HUC-JIR Board of Governors, for their leadership.

Respectfully,
Joy Greenberg
Chair, Presidential Search Committee; HUC-JIR Board of Governors