Dear WSCUC Community,
After seven transformative years as president of WSCUC and an exceptional career spanning policy, campus leadership, and civil rights advocacy, President Studley will step down from her role as WSCUC’s president at the end of this year. I write today on behalf of WSCUC’s Commission to provide information on WSCUC’s presidential search and to express our gratitude for Jamie’s outstanding service.
The Commission will retain a leading national executive search firm to identify a visionary and innovative leader who will advance WSCUC’s strategic priorities. As we conduct a comprehensive search to find WSCUC’s future president, Jamie and WSCUC’s dedicated staff will maintain the agency’s forward momentum and continue to effectively serve our membership. The Commission anticipates identifying WSCUC’s next leader by the end of this year.
Phillip Doolittle, immediate past WSCUC chair and former executive vice chancellor of finance and administration and chief financial officer at University of Massachusetts Global, has graciously agreed to chair WSCUC’s presidential search committee. The committee, comprised of WSCUC Commissioners and staff, will select the ideal candidate to carry forward WSCUC’s important work.
The word “legacy” aptly captures Jamie’s impact at WSCUC and the broader higher education landscape. With smarts and boundless energy, Jamie has positioned WSCUC for continued leadership in innovation, quality and effectiveness. WSCUC launched its “Better Conversations, Better Data” initiative and Key Indicators Dashboard, introduced the 2023 Standards of Accreditation, and expanded its global reach with her at the helm. Under Jamie’s leadership, WSCUC has deepened its commitment to excellence and success for all students.
Jamie’s enduring influence extends beyond WSCUC. She served on the team at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that launched the College Scorecard; played a key role in creating Yale Law School’s model public interest loan forgiveness program; represented institutional accreditors in two rounds of federal negotiated rulemaking, a process she helped implement during her first tenure with ED; served as chair of ED’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI); and today serves as chair of the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC), to name just a few of her achievements.
The Commission extends its heartfelt gratitude to Jamie for her bold leadership, unwavering dedication to students, and immeasurable impact on educational quality and student success. I hope you will join me when the time comes in thanking Jamie for her service to WSCUC and contributions to our field.
Sincerely,
Tracy Poon Tambascia
WSCUC Commission Chair