Presidential search

Messiah's presidential search moves to next phase

(Feb. 3, 2026) -- The Board of Trustees is partnering with DSG Storbeck, a nationally respected executive search firm, to assist in identifying and recruiting exceptional candidates who are well prepared to lead Messiah into its next season of growth and faithful mission impact. The board is encouraged to report that the search firm has cultivated a promising pool of candidates whose experience, leadership and commitments align closely with the presidential profile developed by the university and the board.

The week of Feb. 2, Trustees Lisa Wagman Glezer, Alan Robinson and Jessica Thomas, along with Emerson Powery, Dean of the School of Arts, Culture and Society, will begin working closely with the search firm to conduct an initial evaluation and prescreening of applicants. From this work, a slate of candidates will be identified for consideration by the full search committee, with interviews anticipated to begin in early March.

Search overview

• When President Kim S. Phipps announced her plans to retire at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, the Messiah University Board of Trustees announced the start of a comprehensive national search for the university's ninth president.
• The board launched an initial search in August 2024, which concluded in March 2025, resulting in the board's appointment of Dr. Jon C. Stuckey as interim president in April 2025.
• On Oct. 27, 2025, the board announced that it was proceeding with a new presidential search as a top priority for the institution. 

With the launch of this new search, we invite members of the campus and surrounding communities to use the resources found on this website to be fully engaged and to stay informed as this important national search progresses.

Ways to pray for us

• Please pray for God's leading, wisdom and discernment for Messiah's board of trustees as they make decisions related to the next steps in the ongoing search process for Messiah's ninth president.
• We also invite you to pray for Messiah's interim president, Dr. Jon Stuckey, as he faithfully leads Messiah University through this important time of transition and continues to advance Messiah's distinctive Christ-centered educational mission.