MARLBORO — Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, president of Marlboro College since 2004, announced on April 30 that she intends to step down from that post in June 2015.
Confirming what she earlier had told the college's trustees, McCulloch-Lovell made the following statement to the college community:
“This is a difficult decision to make, as I love Marlboro, its intensive teaching and learning, its mission, the value of our work here, the college community, and my relationship with the dedicated trustees, donors, and friends of this institution. Eleven years will be a long term of service and Marlboro will benefit from new perspective and energy.
“I think this is the best next step for the college, as well as for my husband, Chris, and me, and I know that the community will rally to support a new leader. Everything I've been able to accomplish at Marlboro has been with the collaboration and support of this remarkable intellectual and creative community.”
In a prepared statement, Dean Nicyper, chairman of the Marlboro College Board of Trustees, said: “We are sad to see Ellen step down after so many years of dedicated service. Because of her successful and tireless efforts over the past 10 years, the college is much stronger than it was when she joined us in 2004. She placed the college on significantly firmer footing organizationally and financially, for which we are all grateful.”
As a result of McCulloch-Lovell's leadership, Nicyper said, Marlboro has preserved its successful teaching model, which has been recognized nationally; increased the endowment by more than 50 percent to an impressive $39.5 million; met successively larger fundraising goals; and greatly improved the physical plant and landscape of the campuses, adding a new Health Center and, this coming year, a renovated Visual Arts Center.
McCulloch-Lovell also increased the activity and visibility of the graduate and professional studies program in downtown Brattleboro, launched its nonprofit management programs; improved the energy efficiency of the campus and reduced its use of fossil fuels; and initiated non-degree programs and community partnerships locally.
During her tenure, McCulloch-Lovell also became a powerful spokesperson for the liberal arts, publishing numerous articles and leading the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges.
“Ellen is a planner,” Nicyper said. “Through her successive strategic planning efforts since 2005, Marlboro has a much greater awareness of its strengths and its importance in the world of higher education. The new plan passed by the Trustees this year, Goals to Guide Marlboro, provides a map for our future as the College goes through this presidential transition.”
Nicyper, who is a 1976 alumnus of the college, added that, “Although Ellen has given us the luxury of a 14-month period before she actually steps down,” the board has begun to organize the search process and a search committee that will include trustees, faculty, students and staff, “with the expectation of naming a new president in the spring of 2015.”