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Application Letter From Chad Marlow '94 To The Connecticut College Presidential Search Committee

January 1, 2024 

Dear Members of the Connecticut College Presidential Search Committee:

2023 was a challenging year for America’s colleges and Connecticut College. While colleges, in general, struggled with issues of affordability, free speech, and racial diversity following the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision, Conn faced protests and community dissatisfaction over DEI issues, campus maintenance, staff wages, internal collaboration, student safety, and the quality of life on campus. The breadth of these challenges illustrates how complex the job of a modern college president has become. As we saw during the recent Congressional testimony of the presidents of UPenn, Harvard, and MIT, traditional college presidents can be overwhelmed when their responsibilities go beyond school administration and fundraising. However, for college presidents whose career path – like my own – has prepared them to meet these moments, such challenges present opportunities to excel.

Several important aspects of my background make me particularly well-suited to lead Conn College at this critical time. First, I would come to Conn’s presidency possessing a deep understanding and love for the college developed over 34 years as a student and alumnus. Second, appointing an accomplished ACLU civil rights and liberties attorney as Conn’s president would garner national press attention and demonstrate Conn is answering its community’s calls for meaningful change. Third, in my various leadership roles, I have demonstrated a consistent ability to develop and implement innovative solutions to even the most daunting challenges. Ultimately, I believe my appointment as Conn’s president would be seen as a bold and inspiring choice that lifts our community’s spirits, supercharges our fundraising, and elevates Conn’s national standing.

Qualifications

As Conn’s president, I would draw on more than a quarter century of management and leadership experience, including:

·      As president of a political non-profit, overseeing the organization’s fundraising, budgeting, management, priority setting, and board relations;

·      As a law firm associate, managing a large team of staff in a complex litigation;

·      As founder and president of The Public Advocacy Group LLC, building a highly regarded advocacy firm, hiring and training all employees, and managing all operations;

·      As the senior policy advisor for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, managing the policy work of all mental hygiene division staff; and

·      As an ACLU senior policy counsel, hiring and training staff, and guiding and managing the advocacy work of more than 100 employees throughout the ACLU’s national and affiliate offices on issues involving privacy, surveillance, technology, and education. 

Similarly, I possess decades of successful fundraising experience. For example:

·      At the lowest dollar level ($10,000-$99,999), I led a local political club’s annual fundraising work and engaged in numerous other community fundraising efforts;

·      At the mid-level ($100,000-$999,999), I raised over $300,000 for the Legal Aid Society of New York and raised significant donations for a New York City mayoral campaign; and

·      At the highest level ($1,000,000+), I secured donations of over one million dollars from high-net worth individuals for the ACLU and for clients of The Public Advocacy Group. 

One critical qualification for a modern college president is the proven ability to identify challenges and opportunities, to develop innovative approaches to addressing them, and to implement those plans successfully. Visionary strategic planning and successful plan execution are two of my greatest professional strengths. At the ACLU alone, I:

·      Created and implemented a nationwide campaign that built momentum around the simultaneous introduction of privacy legislation in sixteen states;

·      Established an approach to multi-state advocacy work that led to the formation of the ACLU’s National Political Advocacy Department;

·      Exposed the $3.1 billion EdTech Surveillance industry’s fraudulent marketing practices;

·      Developed and led a racial justice-focused, anti-surveillance effort that Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government named a top technology and public purpose program in the world for 2021; and

·      Influenced privacy and surveillance policy nationwide by becoming the most prolific author of model legislation in the ACLU’s 104 year history.

Another critical qualification is communications expertise. Just as influencing public opinion has been essential to achieving my advocacy goals, improving Conn’s reputation and fundraising will require effectively communicating Conn’s achievements and vision to the outside world. For over three decades, I have shaped public opinion on a multitude of issues, both as a behind-the-scenes strategist and as lead spokesperson, which is a critical skill for someone who will frequently serve as the public face of Connecticut College.

A final qualification worth noting is my extensive network of relationships. Without question, my fundraising ability will be greatly enhanced by the deep connection I have with my fellow alumni. Further, my strong relationships with alumni, elected officials, business/non-profit executives, academics, and policymakers will enable me to attract an impressive range of leaders to engage with our students and broader community. Finally, I would leverage my relationships to attract superior candidates to open positions at Conn.

Leadership and Management Approaches

Conn’s presidential Leadership Profile states that our next president must be “a champion for Conn’s administrators, faculty, staff, and students, whose accessibility and presence can ensure that all members of the campus community know they are valued, supported, and recognized for their contributions.” That standard perfectly captures my approach to proactive leadership. In terms of our faculty and staff, I understand that while great results begin with strong hiring, they are achieved through strong retention. As such, I would prioritize enhancing employees’ morale, quality of life, and professional satisfaction. And regularly interacting with and celebrating the Conn community is not only an essential aspect of the job, it is one of its greatest joys, and I look forward to it immensely.

Among my other management philosophies are the following:

·         HierarchySomeone’s value to an organization is not dictated by their age, experience, salary, or job title. Every Conn employee deserves respect and should be encouraged to fully participate in efforts to strengthen our college.

·         Dissent: Leaders who surround themselves with “yes people” prioritize false confidence over wise decision making. Disagreeing with one’s boss can be intimidating, so effective leaders must be clear that offering constructive criticism and alternative ideas is safe and always appreciated. 

·         Collaboration: Achieving success as a college president is not a one-person job; it takes a great team. Conn College is replete with brilliant, creative minds, and they should all be engaged in guiding Conn’s future.

·         Transparency: Secrecy never serves an organization well in the long run. It strains relationships, creates mistrust, and undermines group problem solving. Achieving great results requires great teamwork, and great teamwork requires transparency.

·         Excellence: One cannot build and maintain a superior institution without adopting the highest of standards. Exceptionalism should be the standard for everything at Conn.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Neither a superior education nor an effective workplace is attainable without exposure to broad perspectives and lived experiences. Unfortunately, DEI commitments too often devolve into box checking exercises, such as hiring employees of color but not supporting their needs once they arrive. Admitting a diverse freshman class and hiring more diverse professors are merely first steps when it comes to achieving meaningful college diversity. Our college must support the needs of vulnerable and underrepresented students, faculty, and staff throughout their time at Conn. I have worked hard to promote diversity and belonging throughout my career and would continue to do so as president.

Presidential Vision

The most common observation I heard from Conn students and alumni over the past several months is that, while Conn is an excellent college, it is not fully living up to its potential. I agree. Unquestionably, Conn’s students, faculty, and staff are among the best in the nation, the beauty of our campus is second to none, and our programs and traditions – like Conn’s Connections program, interdisciplinary scholarship centers, Honor Code, and successful athletic programs – are so exceptional they attract top applicants from around the world. Yet despite this, Connecticut College is not generally recognized as one of our nation’s – or the NESCAC’s – premier liberal arts colleges.

The path to improving Conn’s standing is well-stated in the Leadership Profile, which observes that “differentiation is key to thriving in a competitive market.” For Conn to take its rightful place among America’s most revered colleges, we need to do more than keep pace with the Colbys and Wesleyans of the world. We need to surpass them.

My vision for elevating Connecticut College is to establish Conn as America’s premier leadership college. This vision involves two complementary components: (1) teaching leadership to our students, and (2) demonstrating leadership among America’s colleges.

The first component, teaching leadership, is a natural fit for Conn, which already attracts many leadership-oriented students. Building on that strength, Conn would incorporate instruction about leaders and leadership – along with related subjects like establishing power, exercising influence, building consensus, promoting creativity, and advancing unconventional ideas – into existing courses, new skills-focused courses, internships, study-away programs, non-classroom learning opportunities, and our core curriculum. And through communications efforts, we would make the case that any college applicant who aspires to early leadership in their chosen field should have Conn at the top of their list.

The second component, demonstrating leadership, will require Conn to take on the greatest challenges facing liberal arts colleges. Conn’s mission will be to consistently develop and implement thoughtful, well-designed policies that set the standard for all other colleges – an undertaking I am exceptionally well prepared to lead. As Conn’s president, I would seek to position our college as a leader in promoting and protecting free speech on campus, improving racial diversity in admissions despite recent Supreme Court jurisprudence, and providing a superior education that is affordable to all. Where other colleges struggle to address these issues, Conn will thrive, and the nation will take notice.

Quality of Life on Campus

One of the biggest concerns I have heard from Conn’s students and parents is how the quality of Conn’s campus life – once one of our biggest strengths – has deteriorated. While our magnificent, intimate campus setting provides one of Conn’s best opportunities to differentiate itself, many of its exceptional qualities have been lost. The guarantee of a private room after freshman year – or even an on-campus room at all – is gone. The small dining halls are gone. The dorm common rooms are gone. The high maintenance standards are gone. The campus being the consistent focal point of students’ social life is gone. But while they are gone, they are not forgotten, and I would work hard to bring them back.

Conclusion

I initially became engaged in Conn’s presidential search process purely as an interested alumnus. But over the course of that engagement, which included sharing my views on Conn’s future, I was repeatedly asked to consider applying. Because I love Conn College and have committed my professional life to supporting causes and communities I care deeply about, I agreed to consider it.

Mindful of the events that led to the current presidential vacancy, I did not want to apply to lead our college unless I knew my vision was broadly shared by the Conn community. So, for the past several months, I spent a great deal of time talking to Conn students, parents, staff, and alumni about my vision, and I discovered they not only agreed with it, but found it inspiring. Those who offered their endorsement include the two student leaders of last Spring’s campus protests and Conn’s last alumna to serve as college president. Many of those I spoke with wanted an opportunity to share their support with this committee, so I worked with them to draft a nomination and support letter Conn community members could sign (see Appendix A). I believe that letter demonstrates the great confidence Conn’s alumni and students have in me and my vision for our college.

Ultimately, just as my conversations excited and inspired the Conn community, speaking with them excited and inspired me. That is why I decided to apply to serve as Conn’s 12th president. If given the opportunity, I will work tirelessly to deliver exceptional results and to be the leader Conn needs at this all-important inflection point. 

I want to conclude by thanking the Search Committee for your service to our wonderful college. I recognize that all of you are members of the committee because of your enormous contributions to Connecticut College, and I am very grateful.

Thank you for your consideration of my application.

Sincerely,

Chad Marlow, ’94 (he/him)

Attachment


APPENDIX A

Letter Nominating and Supporting Chad Marlow '94 For 12th President of Connecticut College

November 10, 2023

Dear Members of the WittKeiffer Search Team and the Connecticut College Presidential Search Committee:

As Connecticut College undertakes its search for its next president, it finds itself at an inflection point. Although we arrived at this moment through less-than-ideal circumstances, this moment nonetheless presents Conn with a chance to reorient itself towards greatness. As current Conn students, alumni, parents/guardians, and other community members, we are not looking for Conn’s next president to be someone who wants to advance their career by leading a college; rather, we are looking for someone who specifically and exclusively wants to lead our college, because they already know how special Connecticut College is and understand the heights to which our college can and should rise.

Connecticut College cannot teach greatness while practicing mediocrity. It cannot take its place among America’s best colleges by copycatting the tired approaches of other institutions. We need an accomplished, innovative, and inspiring leader whose long-time love for Connecticut College, as an alumnus, will lift our college to new heights. Accordingly, the undersigned wish to nominate and enthusiastically endorse Chad Marlow, Connecticut College Class of 1994, to serve as our college’s next president.

To highlight some of the attributes and perspectives that make Chad ideally suited to serve as Connecticut College’s 12th president:

·     In light of the racially divisive circumstances that led to the resignation of our past president, as well as the United States Supreme Court’s decision prohibiting the use of race as a criteria for college admissions, Connecticut College would benefit greatly – and gain welcome attention – from having its next president be an accomplished ACLU civil rights and civil liberties attorney, with specific expertise in educational issues, who is steadfastly committed to supporting and increasing diversity at Conn, and has the ability to outmaneuver the Supreme Court.

·     Chad knows where our college is and where it has been. In the early 1990s, when Chad attended, Conn had a pristine, uncrowded, well-maintained campus that was a source of great pride. Today, Conn’s dorms are replete with peeling paint, bathrooms that do not feel safe for many students, intimate dining halls that are abandoned or rarely open, and lost common rooms that have been turned into sleeping quarters due to over-enrollment. Chad will act quickly to reverse this trend and ensure that every inch of Connecticut College projects excellence.

·     Chad’s vision for our college is not merely for it to be a top destination for great students, but one that specifically appeals to students who want to accomplish great things. To that end, Chad will seek to create a college environment that consistently emphasizes (1) leadership, (2) creativity and innovation, and (3) community.

·     Having worked and achieved great success in the private, non-profit, and governmental sectors, Chad knows firsthand what skills the world wants to see in today’s college graduates, and he will ensure Conn’s students are prepared accordingly.

·     Like many other successful college presidents who have come from the government/advocacy world, successfully attracting attention and shaping public opinion have been hallmarks of Chad’s professional career. As such, Chad believes there is significant room for improvement in Conn’s public communications. Conn’s social media needs to be focused on exciting, inspiring, and entertaining former, current, and future students. As for Conn’s alumni-focused communications, our college’s alumni bonds would be strengthened if our communications did not tilt so heavily towards fundraising.

·     As a Conn College alumnus, Chad possesses a deep understanding of our college’s culture, campus, resources, traditions, and everything else that makes Conn special and unique. Unlike with external candidates, we will not have to wait years for Chad to learn what makes Connecticut College great and to develop a deep love for our college.

·     Chad believes a critical long-term goal of Conn’s fundraising must be to lower tuition. Conn should be steadfastly committed to graduating America’s best students, not just those who can afford an elite education. Charging a “comprehensive tuition” of $82,697, even if most students do not end up paying that amount, discourages low-income students and many students of color from even applying to Conn.

·     Chad understands that, in fundraising – especially from high dollar donors – money follows greatness. Conn needs a visionary leader, like Chad, who will generate donor excitement as they see him building Conn into one of America’s greatest colleges.

·     Chad views direct involvement with Conn’s on and off campus community – including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families – to be one of the great joys and privileges of serving as president, and he looks forward to being a visible and approachable presence on campus, including regularly dining with students, faculty, and staff in the dining halls. A small, intimate college community like Conn’s deserves to have a close, personal relationship with its president, and Chad will provide that.

·     Chad knows how enthusiastic many Conn alumni are about participating in college events and helping Conn’s current and former students. Chad views our alumni as an incredible, under-utilized resource that can deeply enrich college life for our students, and he will make efforts to significantly increase their engagement with the college.

·     Chad has spent a great deal of time speaking with current Conn students and has learned that too many have mixed views of the college. Chad believes students’ experience at Conn should always be the president’s top priority. For Conn’s reputation to grow, we need its current students – who are our best and most influential ambassadors – to be consistently singing Conn’s praises.

·     To maximize our students’ ability to influence and lead, Chad wants to modernize our core liberal arts curriculum by adding a focus on leadership skills. This may include requiring core class in “rhetoric” (through the option to take a course in oral or written advocacy) and in “logic” (current Philosophy 103). Chad looks forward to working with the faculty to find more opportunities to modernize and focus Conn’s liberal arts education.

·     Chad knows the Connecticut College community is filled with brilliant minds, and that the more he can engage all community members (students, professors, staff, alumni, families, and the Board of Trustees) in decision making, the better his leadership will be. ACLU lawyers naturally appreciate strong opinions, including dissenting ones, and Chad wants every member of the Conn community to feel comfortable and safe expressing their views.

·     When Chad graduated Connecticut College in 1994, Conn was the 25th ranked liberal arts college in the country. After dipping as low as 55th, we now sit at 45th. While college rankings are rightly the subject of criticism, prospective students, future employers, and college alumni care about them because they reflect the reputation of our college and the value of our degrees. Given the exceptional talent of Conn’s faculty, staff, and students, and the incredible beauty of our campus, we should be doing a lot better. Chad’s goal is nothing less than to turn Conn into the best, most exciting, and most talked about college in America while maintaining all the qualities that made us fall in love with Conn in the first place.

For all the above reasons, the undersigned highly encourage the search firm of WittKeiffer to advance Chad Marlow’s presidential application and for the Connecticut College Presidential Search Committee to select Chad as the 12th president of our college.

Sincerely,

Sabrina Akbar ‘23    Elizabeth Lynch Cheney ’92, P’24    Claire Gaudiani ’66, President (1988-2001)

Victor Alvarez ‘23    Peter Cheney ‘24    Zachary Giugno ‘24
Christa Holahan Ancri ‘94    Tim Cheney ’93, P’24    Andrew Goldman ’94, P’27
Jennifer Angelo ‘93    Saadya Chevan ‘19    Ethan Goldman ‘27
Steven Ardagna ‘26    Kelley Ciotti ‘23    Maritza Gonzalez ‘24
Amy Armata ‘21    Joshua Coleman ‘21    Geoffrey Goodman ‘94
Kathy Arthur ‘94    Amy Cook-Wright '92, P'22    John Gould ‘94
Melissa Avilez ‘23    Natalie Courant ‘94    Jolan Grant ‘27
Kat Bacon ‘10    Meredith Cronin ‘21    Caleb Griffen ‘25
Zachary B. Balomenos ‘14    Gabrielle Dann-Allel ‘14    Alexandra Griffin ‘94
Margaret "Molly" Bangs ‘14    Forbes Darby ‘94    Alex Gross ‘96
Mia Banner ‘88    Abdou-Latifou Dare ‘27    Rose Gruber ‘23
David W. Barron ‘94    Andrew Dawson ‘23    Amira Hakimi ‘25
Meg Barry ‘97    Amy Anderson Deik ‘94    Colby Hall ‘27
Stephen W. Bartlett ‘97    Gwen D'Elia, Staff     Bettina Hempel-Gilbert ‘94
Kellen Beauton ‘26    Michael Dell'Angelo ‘94    Dawn Henry ‘94
Dawn N. Binder ‘91    Nathalie Diaz-Troncoso ‘23    Wilson Hernández ‘26
Ethan Boadu ‘27    Cole Eichler ‘26    Julio Herrera ‘20
Sacha Boegem ‘95    Gianna Ferrara ‘22    Laura Hickernell ‘94
Tashayla Borden ‘21    C. Megan Fischer ‘94    Clare Hummer ‘26
Sarah Bradford ‘15    Sarah Franco ‘24    Nicholas Ingemi ‘24
Delaney Brenner ‘26    Jessica Fuller ‘94    Austin Jenkins ‘95
Hannah Capucilli-Shatan ‘21    Carlos Garcia ‘94    Philip Jett ‘94
Joseph Castro ‘19    Yliani Garcia ‘27    Robert Jones ‘17
Sybil Haggard Chamberlin ‘94    Daniella Garran ‘94    Ryan Karaca ‘27
Salomé Katzin ‘26    Daniel Nam ‘21    Simrin C. Singh ‘95
Suzanne Klotz ‘94    Georgia Naumann ‘14    Liana Slater ‘94
Jennifer L. Knight ‘94    Khadedra Neals ‘24    Jennifer Smith ‘82
Grace LaFleche ‘25    Mary Newton ‘91    Margaret Siegel Spruce ‘97
Douglas Lampart ‘94    Max Nichols ‘14    Pete Stanger ‘27
Nina Lansden ‘22    Philip Nicholson ‘23    Sarah Sutro Steenhausen ‘94
Christian LaRoche ‘94    Katie Mullaley Olander ‘12    Marc Stern ‘23
Rachel Lee ‘26    Julie Olesky ‘18    Ashley Stevens ‘97
Alexandra Leith ‘11    Gideon Olshansky ‘15    Bella Stewart ‘25
Dan Levibe ‘94    Princess F. Omane ‘23    Allen Marshall Swett Jr. ‘25
Alison Lewis ‘94    Irene Grassi Osborne ‘97    John Symons ‘94
Katharine Liell ‘22    Samantha Pass ‘14    Jules Taylor-Kerman ‘25
Mark Cline Lucey ‘95    Ajani Patterson ‘25    Karen Douglass Tolusic ‘97
Susan Cline Lucey ‘97    Roman Perrotto ‘26    Jordyn Turin ‘21
James Macknik ‘94    Julia Pielock ‘14    Peter Twining ‘17
Michael Marchand ‘93    James J. Poff ‘94    Daniel Ángel Varela ‘22
Allison Marculitis ‘17    Ryan Poirier ‘96    Ramsay Vehslage ‘94
Jennifer Jablons Marlborough ‘94    Miya Preyer ‘23    Amy Verebay ‘97
Chad Marlow ‘94    Randal Quan ‘95    Trevor Vigeant ‘24
Pierce Marra ‘26    Aurélia Robert ‘94    Nicole Drepanos Walters ‘95
Will Martin ‘24    Macey Roberts ‘26    Cole Watson ‘26
William Massingham ‘24    Kristy Robinson ‘94    Rebecca Watt ‘97
Michele Mavissalian ‘94    Karin Rohn ‘94    Mike Weed ‘95
Kersyn McBride ‘26    Irina Rosewater ‘97    Kelly Anderson Weiswasser ‘94
John Louis McCormack ‘26    Sarah Roubieu ‘97    Goldie Weixel ‘97
Deborah McCourt ‘94    Shamar Rule ‘24    Virginia Blair West ‘14
Olivia McDonald ‘26    Daphne Currey Russell ‘94    Alix Westbrook ‘94
William McEvoy ‘27    Luke Samton ‘25    Martha Willey ‘19
Nicholas McLaughlin ‘25    Stephen Schadt ‘96    Jennifer Fox Williams ‘94
Ryder McMurray ‘26    Aurora Schifferli ‘27    Lauren Williamson ‘23
William Mears ‘24    Jessica R. Schoonmaker ‘95    Emily Hoffhine Wilson ‘97
Craig Meeker ‘94    Carli Schultz ‘95    Sigmund Winiecki ‘26
Miguel Mendiola ‘23    Frank Sciuto ‘97    Will Winship ‘25
Liam Merrill ‘25    Jennifer Claire Scott ‘94    Mei Lai Wong ‘82
Anne Mickle ‘89    Andrew Selian ‘27    Maisha Yearwood ‘94
Kate Milliken ‘94    James Serhant ‘25    Nancy Yuan ‘97
Annie Morgan ‘23    Mary Haines Severn ‘89    Shane Zarcone ‘27
Liz Moronski ‘26    Caelon Shugrue ‘26    
Lynne Saliba Moronski ’94, P’26    Shauna Simpson ‘95    


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