Mary E.M. Strey, Central College’s vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty, is one of 20 senior college administrators selected by the Council of Independent Colleges to participate in a year-long Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program for prospective college and university presidents.
The seminar-based program is designed to help individuals with the potential to serve as college and university presidents to clarify the alignment between their personal and professional values and goals and the missions of institutions that they might lead in the future. The program aims to produce presidencies that are long-lasting, highly effective and satisfying to both the individual and the institution.
Strey will engage in two seminars, participate in consultations with experienced facilitators and undertake a series of readings about the vocation of college presidents and the role of vision and mission in institutional leadership.
“The alignment of personal vocation and institutional mission emphasized in this program addresses a common pitfall of presidencies,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “The program aims to help participants achieve great things for their institutions.” Since 2005, 53 program participants (33 percent) have been named to college presidencies.
Strey, also professor of chemistry and biology, completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry and romance languages from Bowdoin College. She has a doctorate in biochemistry from Dartmouth College. Since completing her National Institute of Health-funded postdoctoral fellowship in molecular neurobiology, Strey has served 27 years as a faculty member and administrator at several colleges and universities.
“Dean Strey is extremely talented and has been integral to Central College’s continued transformation through innovation, teamwork, transparency and collaboration,” said Central President Mark Putnam. “We are delighted that she has been chosen for this opportunity.”
The CIC is an association of 770 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges and other higher education affiliates that work to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. For more information about CIC, visit www.cic.edu.
