King’s College to announce new president in April

The University of King’s College has narrowed its presidential search to three finalists.

Three candidates were invited to campus to present their vision for the future of the school to students, faculty and staff. The public presentations and Q-and-A sessions were held in the university’s Alumni Hall on March 9, 11 and 13.

The Dalhousie Gazette is obliging the university’s request to not name the candidates to avoid risking their current jobs. 

“This consideration is crucially important in presidential search processes to ensure high-quality candidates can feel safe participating in our process, and that they are able to meet individuals with whom they will work closely,” Stephanie McGrath, chair of the King’s board of governors, said in a March 6 email to students. 

McGrath said the university expects to announce the new president in April.

The search process began in October 2025 when the presidential search committee was created, made up of the university’s board of governors, alumni, staff, students and faculty.

After a decade at King’s, President William Lahey chose not to extend his term in office past June 30, 2026.

McGrath said the committee began the search by consulting with the campus community and revisiting the presidential job description.

King’s hired Royer Thompson, a Canadian executive-search firm that helps organizations find and hire candidates for positions such as university presidents, in November.

McGrath said more than 100 people applied for the position. The committee initially created a list of over a dozen candidates, then chose nine for virtual interviews in February. After further review, three finalists were invited to King’s campus. 

McGrath said each candidate participated in a full day of meetings and presentations as part of a review process that included reference checks, leadership evaluations and assessments conducted by a psychologist, who evaluated candidates’ personalities and determined how they would fit into the university. 

“We’re watching people react to [the candidates],” McGrath said. “The search committee is going to gather a little bit of everything, our interviews, on-site feedback, leadership, evaluations, all of that.”

Although only 10 students were present, some say they appreciated being included in the process.

“This is the future of the university that I plan on going to,” said Chao Silvester, a first-year student in King’s Foundation Year Program. “I’m looking for someone aware of what King’s has, and … someone who is conscious of the variety of students that they will be president over.”

Although the final decision rests with the board of governors, student attendance at the presentations raised concerns that might otherwise be overlooked.

“If I hadn’t come, I don’t think there would have been any talk about athletics,” said Amber Salter, a third-year King’s student studying marine biology and environmental science, who is also a member of the King’s women’s rugby team. 

“More [students] should be here.”

She said she hopes the next president will continue supporting campus life.

“[Lahey] does so much for the community,” she said. “I just want to make sure that the next president who comes in is just as enthusiastic about keeping all of our athletics in play.”

Following the presentations, the search committee invited members of the King’s community to submit feedback via an online survey, which included links to candidates’ cover letters and presentation decks. 

McGrath said the search committee will review the feedback, along with interview notes and leadership evaluations, before presenting its recommendation to the board of governors. 

“There’s no bad choice, just who is the right person for this moment in time.”