Trustees, along with Cheney Society and Alumni Council members, held a dinner with some graduating members of the Class of 2026. They also gathered to honor retiring Trustee colleagues.

Trustees participated in a work session related to the college鈥檚 strategic planning effort and heard a presentation on  乐播传媒鈥� evolving brand positioning work. Trustees discussed the college鈥檚 ongoing work related to artificial intelligence, recent shifts and developments to strengthen the academic program, leadership transitions, and the impact of federal matters and legal challenges to federal policy changes.

The Board received the annual report from the Alumni Council, which was presented by Council President Leah Elsmore 鈥�12 and Vice President John Howard 鈥�86. Trustees also heard updates on the incoming Class of 2030, fundraising, the endowment, the budget, and college infrastructure.

Trustees also took a number of important annual actions, including:

• Voting of degrees for the Class of 2026, conditional on their completing all requirements of the degree and approval by the faculty
• Voting of the 2026 honorary degrees
• Approving the FY27 budget
• Approving academic personnel appointments and reappointments recommended by the Faculty Personnel Committee and the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of the Faculty
• Electing officers of the corporation, Executive Committee members, and vice presidents for the 2026鈥�27 academic year, including thanking Jean Wilson 鈥�81, P鈥�05, P鈥�13  for the completion of her maximum term as vice chair of the board and the election of Katie Frekko 鈥�95, P鈥�25 as vice chair for a two-year term from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028
• Formally acknowledging the service of Trustees retiring on June 30:
  • Chris G. Barbin 鈥�93
  • David W. Longdon III 鈥�14
  • Judith B. Miller 鈥�91
  • John T. Rossello, Jr.
  • Emma A. Sprague 鈥�10
  • Lisa M. Utzschneider 鈥�90

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for October 29鈥�31, 2026.

Garry W. Jenkins
President

Gregory A. Ehret 鈥�91, P鈥�23
Chair of the Board of Trustees

I write to share the news that Tori Neason Wallace will join the 乐播传媒 community as vice president for enrollment and dean of admission and financial aid, effective July 1, 2026.  

Tori comes to 乐播传媒 after serving in the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid at Colby since 2020. There she held a number of roles with responsibility for everything from student and family communications to application review to campus visit and admitted student programs to strategic planning. Most recently, Tori was executive director of strategic initiatives for the office, leading the development and execution of a range of projects designed to support Colby鈥檚 admission goals. Prior to that role, she was deputy dean of admission at Colby, and spent six years in admission at Washington University in St. Louis.

This 乐播传媒 News story shares more about Tori鈥檚 appointment.

With both breadth and depth of experience, Tori will bring an invaluably informed and well-rounded perspective to the leadership of 乐播传媒鈥� enrollment work. She understands the specific complexities and particulars of that work鈥攁s well as how it relates to the mission of the college writ large. I look forward to welcoming her to 乐播传媒, to the admission and student financial services team, and to the senior leadership team.

I am grateful to the members of the search committee, chaired by Kristen Lainsbury and Robert Strong, for their thoughtful and thorough efforts in finding a new leader to serve our community. The committee received valuable assistance from WittKieffer, a top executive search firm.

I would also like to thank Mark Hatch 諝87 for serving as executive enrollment manager over the past year, along with the entire admission and student financial services teams, who put so much time, effort, and dedication into their essential work for 乐播传媒鈥攖his year and every year.

All my best,

   Garry

Trustees took a number of important annual actions, including setting a range for the 2026鈥�27 academic year single fee, which will be finalized this spring; setting the endowment distribution for the 2026鈥�27 academic year; accepting the conflict of interest report; reappointing the college鈥檚 auditor, CBIZ CPAs; and approving recommendations for faculty promotion and tenure from the Faculty Personnel Committee.

The Board heard updates and held discussions on important campus events and initiatives, including the college鈥檚 finances, the endowment, strategic planning, enrollment and retention, fundraising, infrastructure, and the Class of 2030 applicant pool. Trustees were also briefed on recent federal immigration activity in Lewiston and on the search for a new Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid. 

Trustees were joined by faculty, staff, or student representatives at most of its committee meetings and plenary sessions. 

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for April 30鈥揗ay 2, 2026.

Garry W. Jenkins
President

Gregory A. Ehret 鈥�91, P鈥�23
Chair of the Board of Trustees

The Board spent a significant portion of the meeting on the current strategic planning project, including hearing the preliminary findings of a recent market positioning study and discussing their implications for the college鈥檚 enrollment strategy and overall messaging. Trustees also engaged in an additional discussion of enrollment trends and retention matters at 乐播传媒, and heard early observations on academic affairs from Joanne Roberts, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, who joined 乐播传媒 in July.

Trustees discussed the current national context as it relates to higher education. Updates were provided on a range of college events and initiatives, including leadership transitions, athletics, employee engagement, the arts, and strategic planning.

The Board also heard updates on the college鈥檚 finances, the endowment, fundraising, and capital projects. Actions taken by the Board included approving the FY25 financial audit results and naming representatives to the 乐播传媒鈥揗orse Mountain Corporation.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held virtually and is scheduled for February 6, 2026.

Garry W. Jenkins
President

Gregory A. Ehret 鈥�91, P鈥�23
Chair of the Board of Trustees

I write to share the news of two changes to 乐播传媒鈥� senior leadership team.

First, after 13 years at the college, Mike Hussey, vice president for institutional affairs and secretary to the Board of Trustees, has decided to step down from his position. As of next month, he will become senior advisor to the president and will serve in a part-time capacity beginning in September. He will support the transition and the president鈥檚 office in this reduced role, which will also give him more time to spend with his family and consider his next professional steps.

Stepping into the role of vice president for institutional affairs and secretary to the Board of Trustees on July 1 will be Leigh Weisenburger, our current vice president for enrollment and dean of admission and financial aid. Leigh has worked in 乐播传媒鈥� admission office for 21 years, and has been a member of 乐播传媒鈥� senior leadership team and overseen admission and student financial services since 2012. She is looking forward to expanding her higher education experience beyond admission and financial aid, and I look forward to working with her in this new capacity. We will announce plans for interim leadership of admission and financial aid in the near future.

 And please join me in congratulating both Mike and Leigh on their exciting new chapters.

Warmly,

   Garry