The Search for Muhlenberg's 14th President
In July 2026, Muhlenberg College’s Board of Trustees launched a national search for the college’s 14th president, appointing a Presidential Search Committee to help guide the process.
Chaired by two trustees, Raymond McDaniel Jr. P’17 and Eric Hildenbrand ’00, and supported by executive recruiting firm Isaacson, Miller, the committee comprises representatives from across the college community. The new president is expected to assume the role July 1, 2027, succeeding President Kathleen Harring, who announced her retirement in July 2026 after more than 40 years of service to the college.
The Presidential Search Committee
The Presidential Search Committee is charged with interviewing candidates and recommending one or more finalists to the full Board of Trustees, which will vote on and select the president-elect. The committee will be assisted by Isaacson, Miller, one of the nation’s leading executive search firms with extensive experience in higher education presidential searches.
Committee Members
Eric Hildenbrand ’00, Board of Trustees (Co-Chair)
Raymond McDaniel, Jr. P’17, Board of Trustees (Co-Chair)
Kimberly Anderson G’25 P’25, P’27 Associate Vice President for Engagement/Operations & Campaign Director
Sandra L. Smith Bodnyk ’73, Board of Trustees
James Bolton, P’17 P’18 Director, Plant Operations
Lance R. Bruck ’89 P’21, Chair, Board of Trustees
José Dieudonné, Vice President for Operations and Chief Information Officer
Laura Furge, Provost
William Gryc, Professor and Department Chair, Mathematics, Computer Science & Statistics
Kassandra Hartford, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Music
A. Benjamin Miles III ’13, Board of Trustees
Opportunities for Engagement
The Presidential Search Committee is committed to a thoughtful, inclusive search process. To that end, it has identified the following opportunities for engagement among members of the college community:
Students, staff, and faculty: Attend a listening session on September 11, 2026
Location: Miller Forum, Moyer Hall
Time
9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
3 – 4:15 p.m.
Participants
Staff
Students
Faculty
Open Session: Students, faculty, and staff
Alumni, students, staff, and faculty: You are invited to share your perspectives by completing this survey.
About Muhlenberg College
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. At Muhlenberg, we are committed to a campus community that ensures students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome, respected, valued, and included. The college provides an intensely challenging, supportive environment centered around a rigorous academic curriculum designed to prepare students for lives of leadership and meaning in a dynamic, global society. The academic program is amplified by a range of innovative programming: comprehensive and intentional residence-life programming, expansive experiential learning requirements, and an innovative coaching program designed to maximize every student’s performance and potential.
Part of eastern Pennsylvania’s scenic Lehigh Valley — and recently featured in The New York Times for its pace of growth and quality of life — Allentown is a diverse city of 125,000, Pennsylvania’s third-largest, located 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City. The Lehigh Valley, which also includes neighboring cities Bethlehem and Easton, is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state and the Northeast, leading Pennsylvania in population growth for people aged 18–34, and one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation. It is home to a vibrant arts scene, extensive parks and recreational opportunities, a rich blend of diverse cuisine, and so much more. Visit the college’s Life in the Lehigh Valley page and learn more about Allentown here.