Job description
Bennington, VT
THE SEARCH FOR THE 12th PRESIDENT
2026
Bennington College students and alumni express a consistent theme: Bennington is a place of expansive possibility. In this community, individuals discover their voice, articulate their purpose, and learn to pursue not only a livelihood, but a meaningful and imaginative way of life.
Since the College’s founding in 1932, the principles underlying its distinctive model of education have remained consistent. Our students navigate personalized courses of study according to their intellectual and creative interests. Our faculty are active practitioners in the fields they teach; they serve as mentors and exemplars. During the summers and for six weeks each winter, we embrace experiential learning opportunities around the world, followed by a return to campus for continued inquiry.
Bennington continues to evolve. Amid a challenging economic and political climate, Bennington remains nimble and resilient. The College continues to evolve while maintaining its core commitment to leadership in developing new forms of student-centered higher education.
The Opportunity
Bennington College seeks a bold, progressive, creative, seasoned higher education administrator with the acumen required to lead a singular liberal arts institution whose cultural impact far outsizes its physical footprint and age. Bennington’s 12th President will lead a college where ideas can come to fruition quickly in an environment focused on the specific interests and passions of its students, faculty, and staff. The President will have the opportunity to put their stamp on Bennington during a complicated time in higher education that is particularly challenging for liberal arts colleges. The ideal candidate will take pleasure in leading a college where students are driven, self-directed, tolerate uncertainty, thrive under ambiguity, and relish the truly interdisciplinary nature of the Plan and a Bennington education. The President will thrive at an institution that centers the human condition and creates students that can navigate through ambiguity and not only face but conquer the problems of the world.
The next President will preserve and capitalize on the College’s mission and unique educational model, while adhering to its culture of innovation and self-reliance. While strengthening Bennington’s reputation for academic and creative excellence, they will extend the College’s impact and raise its profile in the United States and abroad, as well as within the local community. In light of the challenges created by tight financial margins and limited resources that loom at Bennington and most other small liberal arts colleges, the President will need to exercise the courage, creativity, entrepreneurship, and foresight to protect and sustain progressive liberal arts education in a small college setting.
Opportunities for the 12th President will be bolstering philanthropy; driving strategic enrollment and programmatic growth; articulating a clear and ambitious vision for Bennington; exhibiting community-oriented leadership, and cultivating community and campus culture.
Qualifications
Leading candidates for the presidency of Bennington must have distinguished records of accomplishment in higher education, diplomacy, scholarship, the arts and/or other professional fields where Bennington excels. While we recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set up candidates for success as Bennington’s 12th President, strong candidates will demonstrate the following:
- A record of increasingly responsible, creative leadership in education or a comparably complex, mission-driven organization
- Experience building, articulating and implementing shared strategic vision and shared values
- Ability to inspire others to engage with and financially support ambitious goals
- Deep appreciation and understanding of the mission, values and economic realities facing private higher education
A terminal degree, along with a record of professional excellence appropriate to lead and engage a unique and dynamic academic community, is expected.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $500,000 to $535,000 with a generous benefits package, including a residence. To learn more about Bennington’s offerings, please see their website.
How to apply
DSG Storbeck has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Susan VanGilder, Managing Director, and Danielle Mebert, Managing Associate. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Please send all confidential nominations to [email protected]
