Open Searches

The University of Alabama (UA) invites applications from and nominations of outstanding individuals to serve as the institution’s next President.

UA is in the city of Tuscaloosa, a college town of more than 100,000 with thriving civic, cultural, restaurant, and arts amenities. As one of the nation’s premier public universities, it boasts 12 academic colleges and schools and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 200 fields of study. The Carnegie Foundation lists UA as an R1 institution, placing it among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.

UA is among the nation’s fastest-growing flagship universities with more than 40,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, attracting more than half of its students from out of state. 1,173 students in Fall 2024 were National Merit Scholars. With more than 600 registered student organizations, every student has an opportunity to be involved outside of the classroom. Since Fall 2011, UA has been home to the nation’s largest fraternity and sorority community.

The University is nationally recognized for the beauty of its campus. UA has over 1,000 acres of tree-lined pathways and state-of-the-art facilities that are a source of inspiration for students, faculty, and staff. Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas, and a growing number of partnerships with industry and state and federal agencies. In addition, UA’s capital campaign – the Rising Tide 2.0 – has raised nearly $1.7 billion to support this strategic growth.

UA employs more than 2,100 faculty and was recognized in 2024 by Forbes magazine as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers and Best Employers for New Graduates. Faculty members work closely with students and routinely involve students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels in basic and applied research.

As the Crimson Tide, UA’s athletes participate in 21 NCAA Division I women’s and men’s sports in the Southeastern Conference, which is continuously recognized as the premier collegiate athletic conference. The Crimson Tide holds 28 national championships, including 18 football championships, and competes in some of the nation’s finest athletic facilities.

UA is part of the University of Alabama System (UA System), which was established in 1969 and includes UA, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), and the UAB Health System. The self-nominating Board of Trustees is comprised of 15 members representing Alabama’s seven congressional districts — including three from the district encompassing UA — and the Governor of Alabama as an ex-officio member. Non-ex-officio members are elected by the Board, confirmed by the State Senate, and may serve up to three consecutive six-year terms. The Board ensures the effective leadership, management, and control over the activities of the three doctoral research universities in the UA System and the UAB Health System. This structure provides for a definitive, orderly form of governance, and secures and continues responsive and superior institutions of higher education.

The UA Presidential Search Advisory Committee is committed to assisting the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees in the recruitment of an outstanding President who will continue the institution’s trajectory as one of America’s premier public universities. The successful candidate will have the distinct opportunity to lead a thriving institution that has earned global distinction for rapid and sustained enrollment growth, ever-increasing academic excellence, a growing research enterprise, and state-of-the-art physical facilities.

The Committee is seeking a candidate with:

• A distinguished record of leadership at the presidential or senior executive level at an R1 institution or an equivalent record outside the academy with a demonstrated understanding of the nation’s higher education milieu.
• An impeccable character, mature judgment, and personal and professional integrity.
• A respect for the traditions and culture of the University, while embracing innovation to lead the University to unprecedented achievements.
• The ability to develop a vision for the next decade of the University through coordination with and input from faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, donors, Trustees, the community, and other constituencies.
• A willingness to actively engage in the recruitment of students from a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, academic accomplishments, and career interests.
• The ability to grow and sustain exemplary academic and research achievements and maintain forward progress through an energetic and transformational leadership style and a talent for setting forth a clear vision through plans that are ambitious, inspiring, and sustainable.
• The ability to guide a large and successful Division I athletic program amid a changing intercollegiate athletic landscape.
• A proven ability to build and sustain an empowered leadership team in an environment where shared governance and academic freedom are priorities.
• The documented ability to successfully lead a very complex, fiscally sound, and robust institution.
• A proven commitment to a student-centered university for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with a strong record of improving student success metrics.
• A commitment to develop and maintain the University’s premier facilities, landscaping, and grounds, within UA’s nationally acclaimed campus beautification program.
• A record of success in fundraising and the willingness to engage donors, alumni, parents, and the community.
• The ability to work with multiple constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, UA System leaders, fellow UA System Presidents, and Trustees.
• The interest in and commitment to engage with the community and the state in advancing the lives of citizens and the economic vitality of the region.

How to Apply

UA is being assisted by Academic Search. Applications should consist of a substantive cover letter, a current CV, and a list of at least five professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to:

UAPresident@academicsearch.org

The position is open until filled but only applications received by Wednesday, April 2, 2025, can be assured full consideration. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Ann Die Hasselmo at ann.hasselmo@academicsearch.org and Chris Butler at chris.butler@academicsearch.org.

Further information about UA may be found at www.ua.edu and an institutional opportunity profile may be found at https://stories.ua.edu/opportunity-profile/.

UA is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases.