Presidents, spouses, sponsors, and speakers celebrated the accomplishments of higher education leaders and honorees at the January 6 Presidents Institute Awards Banquet at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
With the largest participation in the Institute’s history and a stimulating and substantive program, CIC’s 2016 Presidents Institute took place in Miami Beach, Florida, January 4–7. Focusing on the theme, “Securing America’s Future: The Vitality of Independent Colleges,” sessions highlighted the strengths and contributions of independent colleges and captured the messages of CIC’s campaign for the liberal arts.
The Institute drew a record number of presidents (382) and spouses and partners (190) as well as a total registration of 856 people. It welcomed leaders from several international member institutions, including those from France, Iraq, Lithuania, Morocco, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. And for the second year, the Institute hosted a delegation of private university rectors and higher education leaders from Mexico.
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., president and CEO of TIAA-CREF, delivered the keynote address on the president’s role in leading transformational change in independent colleges and universities. In a plenary session moderated by
Holiday Hart McKiernan, chief of staff and general counsel of the Lumina Foundation, a panel of innovative CIC presidents—Esther L. Barazzone of Chatham University (PA),
Paul J. LeBlanc of Southern New Hampshire University,
Elizabeth J. Stroble of Webster University (MO), and
John S. Wilson, Jr. of Morehouse College (GA)—considered how independent higher education can respond to disruptive changes in society and the academy without compromising the core characteristics of independent colleges that have assured the delivery of a high-quality education for decades.
In the well-received session, “What Matters in College: The Vital Role of Independent Colleges,”
Frank Bruni,
New York Times op-ed columnist and author of
Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania (2015), discussed why independent colleges and universities deserve serious consideration by prospective students and their families. In short, they provide an outstanding education to students from a wide range of backgrounds. In the closing plenary session, “Campus Civility and First Amendment Freedoms: Presidential Leadership in a Pluralistic Society,” panelists addressed the role of presidents in shaping their campus cultures, balancing the competing claims of political correctness and freedom of speech, and influencing society to learn from and respect the increasing diversity on campus and in the world. Panelists included
Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core and author of
Sacred Ground: Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America (2013);
Ken Starr, president and chancellor of Baylor University (TX) and former solicitor general of the United States;
Eileen B. Wilson-Oyelaran, president of Kalamazoo College (MI); and as moderator,
Sanford J. Ungar, distinguished scholar in residence at Georgetown University, who has been president of Goucher College (MD), director of Voice of America, and host of NPR’s
All Things Considered.
In conjunction with the Presidents Institute, CIC also hosted the New Presidents Program that included sessions for spouses and partners of new presidents; the Presidents Governance Academy; and the Presidential Spouses and Partners Program.
During its annual awards banquet, CIC presented the 2016 Award for Philanthropy (Individuals) to
O. Jay and Patricia Tomson, a couple who has given generously to three colleges—Wartburg College (IA), Luther College (IA), and St. Olaf College (MN)—benefitting such diverse programs as finance, social work, education, and foreign language study. CIC presented the 2016 Award for Philanthropy (Organization) to the
Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, which has created the largest privately funded, service-based college scholarship program in the nation. Accepting the award on behalf of the foundation was
Robert Hackett, president of the Bonner Foundation, accompanied by
Kenneth Kunzman, chair of the Bonner Foundation board of trustees. CIC presented the 2016 Allen P. Splete Award for Outstanding Service, supported by Jenzabar, to
W. Robert Connor. Connor is a scholar and former president of the Teagle Foundation and of the National Humanities Center; he has developed and implemented numerous successful initiatives to take student learning to a higher level.
Photos from the Institute
CIC presented the 2016 Allen P. Splete Award for Outstanding Service to W. Robert Connor. The award was sponsored by Jenzabar, represented by Robert Maginn, president and CEO.
CIC presented the 2016 Award for Philanthropy (Individuals) to O. Jay and Patricia Tomson, who have given generously to three colleges—Wartburg College (IA),
Luther College (IA), and
St. Olaf College (MN).
CIC presented the 2016 Award for Philanthropy (Organization) to the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, represented by the foundation’s chair Kenneth Kunzman and president Robert Hackett (center).
CIC recognized S. Georgia Nugent, interim president of the
College of Wooster (OH) and chair of CIC’s liberal arts campaign, with the “Champion of the Liberal Arts Award” for her innovative and inspirational leadership on the campaign.
Jennifer L. Braaten, president of
Ferrum College (VA), addressed new presidents and spouses and partners.
Robert E. Johnson, president of
Becker College (MA), discussed “High-Tech and High-Touch—How to Have Both.”
Leaders of the Mexican Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions, the Mexican Federation of Private Institutions of Higher Educations, CIC Board of Directors, and other leaders discussed partnership opportunities.
Frank Bruni, President Institute speaker and
New York Times columnist, spoke with CIC member presidents during a reception.