Randolph-Macon College Hires New President Robert Lindgren to take helm of nationally ranked R-MC

ASHLAND, VA – Randolph-Macon College is pleased to announce that Robert R. Lindgren has been selected to serve as the college's 15th president.

“Randolph-Macon College is ranked as one of the top national liberal arts and sciences colleges in the country and has an outstanding reputation,” Lindgren said. “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to become a part of this great 175-year-old institution. I am inspired by the extraordinary contributions that independent, residential, liberal arts colleges like Randolph-Macon make to higher education, to the nation and the world at large. I believe this valuable educational experience should be perceived as an important option to those considering college.

“Randolph-Macon has an exciting strategic plan that focuses on student engagement, personal interaction and academic rigor at all levels,” he continued. “One of my goals is to help ensure that this plan receives the necessary funding to succeed so future generations of students and faculty will continue to benefit from what I call ‘the magic of the Randolph-Macon experience.’”

Lindgren currently is the vice president for Development and Alumni Relations at The Johns Hopkins Institutions in Baltimore, Md., a position he has held since 1994. There he leads fund raising, alumni relations and other development activities for both The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, and serves as a senior officer of the university and as a member of the president’s cabinet.

Lindgren joined Johns Hopkins as the university and the hospital joined to undertake an ambitious, multiyear campaign in 1994. The campaign passed its original goal of $900 million in April 1998, nearly two years ahead of schedule, and set a new goal of $1.2 billion. Completed in June 2000, with a total of $1.52 billion in gifts and commitments, the campaign was the fifth largest ever in higher education at that time.

In July 2000, the Hopkins Institutions undertook another comprehensive campaign with an overall goal of $2 billion. This back-to-back campaign strategy is nearly unprecedented in American higher education fund raising. Currently, the institutions have received more than $1.9 billion in new commitments. Johns Hopkins is one of only four institutions to have raised more than $300 million in six consecutive years and has ranked sixth or better in total private support for all universities in the past five fiscal years.

Prior to coming to Johns Hopkins, Lindgren had worked at the University of Florida since 1979; he was vice president and chief development officer there for 10 years, heading a fund-raising program generally recognized as being in the top 10 among public institutions. He directed the University of Florida's first campus-wide campaign, completed in 1991 with total commitments of $392 million. At the time, it was the third-largest amount raised in a campaign by a public university.

Lindgren is a 1976 graduate of the University of Florida and earned a law degree there in 1981. He also earned a master of philosophy degree in management studies in 1978 from Oxford University in England. He currently serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Educational Advancement and on the boards of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Maryland Humanities Council and the Independent College Fund of Maryland.

Harold E. Starke Jr., chair of the Presidential Search Committee and a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, said Lindgren has all of the qualities needed to make the ideal Randolph-Macon College president.

“He is a proven leader and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will greatly benefit the college,” Starke said. “Mr. Lindgren is not only a personable and engaging individual, but one of the highest integrity. We are fortunate to have him take the helm. His track record is exceptional, and he shares the Board’s vision for the future of Randolph-Macon.”

The search for the 15th president of Randolph-Macon College began when President Roger Martin announced his 2006 retirement following nine years of dedicated service to the college. A presidential search committee, including members of the college’s Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students, was convened in April 2005. Academic Search Consultation Service, a firm well regarded for their professional guidance to institutions of higher education, was then hired to assist the committee in conducting a national search. An outstanding group of candidates was identified from a pool of approximately 100 applications and after thorough research and numerous interviews, the committee identified three exceptional finalists. In recent weeks, each of the finalists visited campus to meet with the extended Randolph-Macon College community.

“I look forward to getting to know the Randolph-Macon community in the coming months and working with them collaboratively towards common goals,” Lindgren said. “This is a terrific place with really dedicated people who have so much to offer. Together, I am confident we will achieve great things.”

Said Macon F. Brock Jr. ’64, vice chair of the Presidential Search Committee and chair of the R-MC Board of Trustees, “Randolph-Macon is an educational institution committed to its mission of developing the minds and character of its students. Mr. Lindgren will embrace that mission, our core values and our traditions as well as maintain the standard of excellence that has been our hallmark for 175 years. The Randolph-Macon community welcomes Mr. Lindgren and his family with open arms.”

A native of western Michigan, Lindgren, his wife Cheryl and their three children all will be making the move to Ashland. At this time, it is anticipated Lindgren will arrive at Randolph-Macon in February 2006.