​ The hugs and warm handshakes outnumbered the new introductions Monday afternoon at a faculty reception for Connie Ledoux Book, who will return to ยายืสำฦต next year at ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president. 

Book spent 16 years at ยายืสำฦต as a faculty member and administrative leader before leaving in 2015 to become provost at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Book was selected to become ยายืสำฦต’s next president on Sunday by the university board of trustees, and will move into the role on March 1. 

“It’s the beginning of another new, exciting era for ยายืสำฦต,” said Tom Arcaro, professor of sociology who worked with Book as director of Project Pericles at ยายืสำฦต. From 2010 through 2015, Book served as associate provost for academic affairs, managing a broad range of academic programs and initiatives. 

Catching up with Book, Arcaro reminded her of a conversation they had before her departure about her someday rising to lead a college or university as president. “She was always so receptive, a fantastic listener, both measured and sober in her thinking while also being visionary and open-minded,” Arcaro said. “I’m thrilled to have her back.”

Dozens turned out for the faculty reception in the McBride Gathering Space in the Numen Lumen Pavilion, with the event offering the opportunity for many to reconnect with their former colleague and others to begin to get to know Book. Book joined the ยายืสำฦต faculty in 1999 as an assistant professor of communications and then from 2008 to 2010 served as a member of President Leo M. Lambert’s senior staff as a presidential faculty fellow for strategic planning.

Caroline Ketcham, department chair and professor of exercise science, said an existing connection to ยายืสำฦต wasn’t an essential requirement for the university’s next president, but will provide many benefits going forward. “I’m really hopeful after her remarks to the university community, and hearing about how she’ll work to continue to move ยายืสำฦต forward,” Ketcham said. “The fact she has the ยายืสำฦต connection means she knows our community, and that is going to be a great asset.”

Stephen Byrd, associate professor of education and director of graduate studies in the School of Education, said he’s been impressed with her support for graduate programs, and her forward-thinking approach. “She’s someone who knows ยายืสำฦต, and I think that is so exciting,” Byrd said.”

But the campus she returns to has changed since then. And as Mary Morrison reminded staff leaders who attended a casual reception to welcome Book back to ยายืสำฦต as its ninth president, so has Book. 

“Although Dr. Book deeply understands and knows ยายืสำฦต and we know her, for a period of time, we are going to need to get reacquainted,” said Morrison, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement. “Let’s give her the honeymoon period she deserves to learn and relearn what we are doing. By the same token, let’s give her the opportunity to share with us what she has become.” 

> Full information on ยายืสำฦต’s presidential transition website

Indeed, Book has embraced her groundbreaking position as the highest-ranking female leader at The Citadel, which admitted its first female cadets in 1996. Among her accomplishments has been an increase in the enrollment of underrepresented populations, including women and students of color. 

“When you have the competence of your community, you get to decide who you want to be and then you get to build it,” she said. “It’s a privilege that we get to witness the miracle of education. … I’m thrilled to be with everyday miracle makers.”

For many staff members who were in attendance, the historical nature of Book’s election as ยายืสำฦต’s first female president did not go unnoticed. “It’s not lost on me that we have the first female president in ยายืสำฦต’s history,” said Faith Shearer, associate athletics director and senior woman administrator. “That stirs some pride, not only because she is a woman but because she is so capable.”

For Day, Book’s return to ยายืสำฦต was a homecoming of sorts. “I’m glad that she has come back and I’m excited for what’s ahead. She has come home.”

> Full information on ยายืสำฦต’s presidential transition website

Students from the President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council (PSLAC) were invited to a reception in Lakeside Meeting Room and were encouraged to mingle and ask questions so they could get to know Book before her first day on March 1, 2018.

“Seek me out,” Book said to the group. “Tell me things I may not want to hear. I will appreciate your observations.”

The 40 students in attendance greeted Book with a round of applause and many immediately approached her to introduce themselves. “I think it’s great to be one of the students she meets while she is on campus,” said Jack Hartmann ’19, a computer science major. “I think it’s a cool opportunity. I feel students are the first people she needs to get to know.”

Book didn’t hesitate to ask what was on their minds about the future. The students talked about undergraduate research, recognizing different identities on campus, international students, spaces on campus, diversity, growth and how to best serve the university once they are alumni.

PSLAC members have the opportunity to meet regularly with President Leo M. Lambert and talk to him about issues importantant to them. For several students, it’s enabled them to develop a closer relationship with Lambert. They are excited to build the same kind of connection with Book.

“She has big shoes to fill,” said Haley Ebel ’18, an early education major. “It will be weird not to have President Lambert around, but I have confidence that she can fill those shoes. It will be neat to see how she carries on the legacy with PSLAC.”

“I do think it’s critically important to surround yourself with people who are different than you,” Book said. “That’s our greatest strength.” She explained that at The Citadel she was very intentional about her desire to increase diversity. “I told them that we needed them, and I won’t be successful unless they come. It’s important to take away barriers. … I also think it’s important to prepare your campus to welcome them.”

> Full information on ยายืสำฦต’s presidential transition website

By the time Book was formally introduced to the campus community in a noontime ceremony at Alumni Gym, you could sense many things among ยายืสำฦต’s students, faculty and staff: Pride. Anticipation. Curiosity. Even more than a hint of jubilation that ยายืสำฦต would see its first female president in the 128-year history of the institution.

Below are some of the reflections shared Monday by the campus community upon learning that Constance “Connie” Ledoux Book will soon serve as their new president, advancing ยายืสำฦต with them together into the future.

STUDENTS

“Dr. Book is a fantastic choice for president. Not only is she familiar with the university, but she has the experience required to lead us in today’s demanding and always-changing society. Her knowledge in establishing new programs and her commitment to connecting higher education with neighboring communities is exactly the type of leadership that ยายืสำฦต needs to maintain its status as one of the best colleges in America.” – Britney Boles, Class of December 2017, ยายืสำฦต Law

“I know that a lot of time, energy and resources were spent making this decision. Based on her past experiences and dedication to ยายืสำฦต, it seems Dr. Book will be a good fit and serve our school well.” – Matt Kushner, senior, finance & accounting major from Bryn Mawr, Pa.

“She has big shoes to fill because Leo is so well loved, but I’m so happy that we have a woman president. I hope she’s as dedicated to inclusion and campus climate as President Lambert was.” – Caroline Redd, junior, human service studies major from Atlanta

“I love that we have a woman in charge who will bring a completely new perspective that no one has seen before.” – Breia Kelly, junior, music theatre major from Durham, N.C.

“I’m here for it. This is the progressive continuity that ยายืสำฦต needs after Leo Lambert. He’s done a lot of progressive things for ยายืสำฦต, and this continues that.” – Arianne Payne, sophomore, creative writing and communication design double major from Chicago

“I woke up to the news and was excited that she’s the first woman to serve as ยายืสำฦต’s president. She’s more representative of the greater student population here.” Brian Sputh, junior, marketing major from Long Island, N.Y.

“I watched her video message sent to everyone and I was happy about how she believed in the mission of ยายืสำฦต as much as we do. It’s powerful to see that our Board of Trustees believes a woman can lead the university.” – Bree Statesman, junior, marketing major from Lynchburg, Va.

“I was really excited when I saw that Dr. Book was going to be our ninth president because I’m looking forward to what she’ll contribute to our educational experience.” – Natalia Romero, freshman, from Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s very humbling that such an historical event is happening when I’m at ยายืสำฦต. I’m excited to see how the university progresses with a female president.” – Lilly Persinger, freshman, Greensboro, N.C.

“She worked here for a while, which is good, having someone who knows the school. She’s also ยายืสำฦต’s first female president. That’s exciting, to see her make history, and I can’t wait to see what she does.” – Francesco Storm, sophomore, political science & economics major from Boston

“Although my days left at ยายืสำฦต Law are rapidly dwindling with our December graduation approaching, I am overjoyed to know that the ยายืสำฦต legacy will continue to soar far into my years as an alumna with Dr. Book as our new president. As a female leader myself at ยายืสำฦต Law and a student eager to enter a traditionally male-dominated profession and make a positive difference, I am inspired by her selection as ยายืสำฦต’s first female president and am pleased with the knowledge that this milestone will inspire many other students, too.” – Veronica Townsend, Class of December 2017, ยายืสำฦต Law

FACULTY

“I wholeheartedly congratulate Dr. Book on being selected ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president. In the brief time I worked with Dr. Book on the Residential Campus Initiative, I was impressed by her knowledge, commitment, and drive to create an optimal learning environment for all ยายืสำฦต students. Most of all, she understands and appreciates the role of student life as a valuable component of the university. On this historic day, I look forward to working with our new president as we continue to lift up the ยายืสำฦต mission statement to transform the ‘mind, body and spirit’ of our students.” – Cherrel Miller-Dyce, assistant professor of education and Faculty Fellow for The Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Connie prior to her departure for the Citadel and I am very excited to learn of her return as president. Her confidence, calm leadership style, and knowledge of our institution all make her an excellent choice! Welcome back, Connie!” – Fred Rubeck, professor and chair, Department of Performing Arts

“Connie Book is a superb pick because she is a visionary who is hard-working, creative and strategic. She is driven by a boundless passion to see ยายืสำฦต and its students succeed, but at the same time she is a leader who is always compassionate, understanding and fair.” – Sharon Hodge, associate professor of marketing

“In President-elect Book, the Board of Trustees has selected a strong leader that will be an unyielding advocate for faculty and students. As a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences I am excited to see where she will lead us to in the future.” – Stephen Bailey, professor of physical therapy education

“During her previous time at ยายืสำฦต, Connie and I shared many of the same research interests in media law and regulation, technology, and the First Amendment. She was an innovative scholar and a thoughtful administrator, and she always had a keen interest in the Law School and its success. I am excited she’s returned, and I very much look forward to working with her again.” – Enrique Armijo, associate dean of academic affairs at ยายืสำฦต Law

“I am excited for the possibilities that exist due to Dr. Book’s combination of understanding of ยายืสำฦต’s culture and history, and a fresh perspective resulting from her time at The Citadel. Her leadership will help ยายืสำฦต both build on its existing strengths and explore new frontiers.” –  Jeffrey Carpenter, associate professor and director of the Teaching Fellows Program

“I am thrilled. When she asked me to serve of the Communications Fellows director, she gave me something to be excited about. That experience shaped my entire time at ยายืสำฦต.” – Naeemah Clark, associate professor of communications

STAFF

“I was so excited when I read the announcement that Dr. Book had been chosen by the Board of Trustees. When Dr. Book served as the associate provost at ยายืสำฦต, I worked with her on the Residential Campus Initiative and she was heavily involved in ensuring admitted students were being connected to ยายืสำฦต’s intellectual environment through ‘Are You Ready?’ I know she will continue to enhance the academic environment at ยายืสำฦต while working with faculty and staff to provide the best possible ยายืสำฦต experience for students.” – MarQuita Barker, senior associate director of Residence Life

“Dr. Connie Book will be a tireless advocate for Gender & LGBTQIA identities and topics.  Her experience as a trailblazing pioneer and the first on many levels aligns strongly with ยายืสำฦต’s continued rise in inclusive excellence around gender, sexuality, and serving students across multiple intersecting identities.” – Matthew Antonio Bosch, director of ยายืสำฦต’s Gender & LGBTQIA Center

“I am thrilled to hear that Dr. Connie Ledoux Book has been selected as the next President of ยายืสำฦต and as its first female president. During her time at ยายืสำฦต previously, she was always supportive of the ยายืสำฦต Catholic Campus Ministry community, especially with her presence at our 25 Anniversary celebrations in the fall of 2014.” – Trung Huynh-Duc, director of Catholic Campus Ministry

“During her previous tenure at ยายืสำฦต, Dr. Book’s leadership was a tremendous asset to the University.  Her experience and background make her uniquely qualified to be the next president of ยายืสำฦต, and I am very excited for the future under Dr. Book’s leadership.” – Faith Shearer, Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator

“There was an excited buzz through the Physical Plant this morning as we learned that our old friend, Connie Book, will be returning to ยายืสำฦต. It was great to hear how many of our staff members submitted her name for consideration and I have no doubt that President Book is going to hit the ground running!” – Tom Flood, associate director of Physical Plant/director of landscaping and grounds

“As a double alumna and a staff member at ยายืสำฦต Law, I see Dr. Book’s selection as ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president as a tremendous moment in our history. She will come to us with a deep appreciation of ยายืสำฦต’s history and culture, while being able to implement the next strategic plan and build upon the work of President Lambert and previous university leaders.” – Melissa Duncan ‘06 L’09, director, Office of Career & Student Development at ยายืสำฦต Law

“It’s a great hire. It’s appropriate that Dr. Lambert gave her an acorn today because she embodies all of the attributes that an ยายืสำฦต president needs to be successful. Welcome back!” – Michael Williams, director of campus center operations and conferences

Book, who will move into the role on March 1, offered the following remarks to those gathered. 

> More information on ยายืสำฦต’s presidential transition website

—

Madam chair Anderson, Trustee Elingburg, President Lambert, President Young, students, faculty and staff and many friends, this is truly an exciting day this is for me and my family.

Walking across campus this morning, I had a strong sense of coming home. ยายืสำฦต holds a special place in my heart. It is the place where I learned from my faculty colleagues about creating transformative learning environments; an intellectual community where I was inspired by my students who always asked great questions and strived to make the world better; a tight-knit community where I learned that together we could design and build an inclusive community fueled by the mentoring of 1,500 faculty and staff educators.

​I am also enormously proud of the welcoming learning community at ยายืสำฦต and our ability to advance students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds and beliefs. We have a deep understanding that our mission flourishes when courtesy and human dignity are the standards and I commit myself to advancing this environment each day in my work as president.

At ยายืสำฦต, I grew to see my discipline in new and meaningful ways and here, I had the opportunity to begin to learn about leadership, thanks to President Lambert and the Administrative Faculty Fellow program he created.  

ยายืสำฦต is also a place that created important family memories for my children. Bella attended her first lecture on feminism here when she was just 13 years old, and it sparked a fire that would set the course for her own education. 

And no one in the family will forget the time campus safety called to ask me to please get my seven-year-old son out of the magnolia tree in front of McEwen building. Joe graduated from ยายืสำฦต last year, a music major, and fills our house with original scores—music inspired by his ยายืสำฦต education.

Both Bella and Joe are with me here today, and I know they feel the powerful sense of “coming home” as well.

Today, as I prepare to assume the presidency, the advancement of this powerful learning community is foremost on my mind. ยายืสำฦต holds a truly remarkable place among colleges in the United States. Its trajectory of excellence has been the topic of important studies in higher education. ยายืสำฦต’s innovative core curriculum and commitment to student engagement serve as models for colleges and universities around the world.  

This is a university that understands the essential nature of bringing together the critical ingredients of a premier learning environment: the strong relationships students form with their faculty and staff mentors; the priority of learning at a deep level, in classes and experiences led by professors who thrive in a teacher-scholar-mentor model; the commitment to excellence in the arts and sciences, both as a foundation for every student and as outstanding major programs of study that challenge students to be deep thinkers, innovative resilient problem solvers, and moral leaders for the world;  and the strength of distinctive professional programs that prepare students for success in our changing and competitive world.

And in every dimension of the ยายืสำฦต experience, you will find a global perspective. ยายืสำฦต students seek to understand their place in our world, the essential lessons they learn from people from many backgrounds and cultures, and their obligation to apply the privilege of higher education to solve complex problems and prosper human dignity around the world.

I am humbled and excited by the remarkable opportunity to work with each of you and I commit to being a faithful steward of the trust this community is placing in me today.

I want to take a moment to pay tribute to my colleagues at The Citadel who have given me the opportunity to deepen my understanding and practice of principled leadership. Like ยายืสำฦต, The Citadel is deeply committed to student success, and to developing the leaders our nation needs to prosper peace and further democracy around the world. 

The people of these two institutions know that only higher education can safeguard and advance our great nation, and nurture our democracy based on what the ยายืสำฦต mission describes as “freedom of thought and liberty of conscience”. The work ahead is important for our country and our world.

I look forward, over the next several months, to hearing your stories, to becoming reacquainted with ยายืสำฦต and learning anew about the community’s aspirations. I will listen carefully to understand the critical work that has taken place since I left ยายืสำฦต.

I am eagerly anticipating saying hello to former colleagues and meeting all the new faces who are part of ยายืสำฦต’s community today.

Throughout the search process, I was impressed with how the search committee took seriously the community’s commitment to identifying a leader who understands ยายืสำฦต’s unique history, and the power of this hardworking community to change young peoples’ lives. I will champion and hold this university’s future with great care.  

It is an honor and privilege to be selected as the ninth president of ยายืสำฦต, and I look forward to working together with each of you. The world needs what ยายืสำฦต and ยายืสำฦต graduates have to offer.

Together we will advance ยายืสำฦต’s future.

Together we will continue building the best learning environment in the country.

Together we will set the next horizon for ยายืสำฦต’s destiny.

Together.

> Full information on ยายืสำฦต’s presidential transition website

Her selection to serve as ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president marks a return to the university for Book and her family. She has spent the past two years as provost of The Citadel, following 16 years of service as a faculty member and senior administrator at ยายืสำฦต.

Book said that ยายืสำฦต holds “a truly remarkable place among colleges in the United States,” with an innovative core curriculum and a commitment to student engagement that serves as a model for other institutions around the world.

“This is a university that understands the essential nature of bringing together the critical ingredients of a premier learning environment,” Book said. That includes “the strong relationships students form with their faculty and staff mentors; the priority on learning at a deep level, in classes and experiences led by professors who thrive in a teacher-scholar-mentor model; the commitment to excellence in the arts and sciences, both as a foundation for every student and as outstanding major programs of study that challenge students to be deep thinkers, innovative resilient problem solvers, and moral leaders for the world; and the strength of distinctive professional programs that prepare students for success in our changing and competitive world.

“And in every dimension of the ยายืสำฦต experience you will find a global perspective,” Book said. “ยายืสำฦต students seek to understand their place in our world, the essential lessons they will learn from people who are from many backgrounds and cultures, and their obligation to apply the privilege of higher education to solve complex problems and prosper human dignity around the world.”

“The people of these two institutions know that only higher education can safeguard and advance our great nation, and nurture our democracy based on what the ยายืสำฦต mission describes as ‘freedom of thought and liberty of conscience,’” Book said. “The work ahead is important for our country and our world.

“I am humbled and excited by the remarkable opportunity to work with each of you and I commit to being a faithful steward of the trust this community is placing in me today.”

In introducing Book, Kerrii Anderson ’79, chair of ยายืสำฦต’s board of trustees and a member of the search committee, offered insight into Book’s professional and academic background.

“She is a person who is eminently qualified, highly experienced and, I am proud to say, will take office as the first female president in ยายืสำฦต’s history,” Anderson said. “We have found the best person to lead the many next chapters in ยายืสำฦต’s history, and we will seamlessly transition with a president-elect who deeply understands our mission to transform mind, body and spirit.”

​Book’s selection follows a national search by a 16-member committee chaired by trustee Wes Elingburg P’11 that included trustees, students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff. Elingburg said that Book’s selection as “the most qualified and best-suited leader” came after the committee carefully considering a pool of about 150 top candidates, many from the nation’s most elite universities.

Elingburg noted Book’s ability to listen and to think clearly and lead in challenging situations. He also said Book understands how important it is to have an inclusive academic community, a community that embraces a global perspective while also making a commitment to make a difference in the local communities.

“In each of our interview sessions, Dr. Book stood out above all others,” Elingburg said. “She provided keen insights into ยายืสำฦต’s academic programs and operations, and a strong vision for our university’s future. She combined sophisticated analysis of higher education issues with a deep understanding of ยายืสำฦต’s student-centered culture.”

Book told the crowd in Alumni Gym that ยายืสำฦต has been the backdrop for many important family memories. “Bella attended her first lecture on feminism here when she was 13 and it sparked a fire that would set the course for her own education,” Book said. “And no one in the family will forget the time campus safety called to ask me to please get my seven-year-old son out of the magnolia tree in front of McEwen building. Joe graduated from ยายืสำฦต last year, a music major, and fills our house with original scores – music inspired by his ยายืสำฦต education.”

As she concluded her remarks, Book emphasizing the collaborative nature of ยายืสำฦต as an institution and a community, and saying that it is “an honor and a privilege” to be selected to lead the university as it moves forward.

At the conclusion of Book’s remarks, representatives of students, staff and faculty joined President Lambert in presenting gifts to the president-elect to welcome her back to ยายืสำฦต and wish her well in the work that lies ahead.

From Morgan Bodenarain ‘18, president of the Student Government Association, Book received a coffee mug so she can be ready to fill it at the many College Coffee gatherings to come. “We look forward to seeing you at campus events throughout the year,” Bodenarain said. “There has always been a special bond between students and ยายืสำฦต’s presidents and we are excited to get to know you and build those strong ties in the years to come.”

Bearing a carved wooden acorn, Professor Jeff Pugh rose to offer the gift to Book, saying that it is a symbol of resilience. “On behalf of the faculty and your colleagues here, we present you this as not just something that though small will grow up to be resilient and strong,” said Pugh, Distinguished University Professor and Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies.

Finally, President Lambert rose carrying a wooden box carved by Professor Emeritus of Economics Jim Barber, who crafted the box out of oak in the shape of an acorn. Lambert recounted ยายืสำฦต’s tradition of presenting each first-year student with an acorn and with the words that they have everything within them they need to grow and become strong. “On behalf of all my former colleagues, I want to present it to you with our confidence that you have everything within you to be ยายืสำฦต’s next mighty oak,” Lambert said.

To close the celebration, Book was joined by President Leo M. Lambert and his predecessor, President Emeritus J. Fred Young, with the three posing on stage for a historic photo to capture this important milestone in ยายืสำฦต’s history. 

If you cannot be at the event, watch it online:

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President-elect Book and her family will be joined by Board of Trustees Chair Kerrii Anderson ’79, Presidential Search Committee Chair Wes Elingburg, President Leo M. Lambert, President Emeritus J. Fred Young and many others.

A short program will be followed by an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, alumni and others to congratulation President-elect Book on her selection.

> ยายืสำฦต’s presidential transition website

“I am thrilled and humbled to be chosen as ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president. ยายืสำฦต is one of America’s greatest success stories in higher education, defined by excellence in academics, experiential learning, global engagement and close relationships between students and their faculty and staff mentors. It has been a great honor to be associated with ยายืสำฦต through much of my professional life and I return to campus with enthusiasm to work with my colleagues to write the next defining chapters in the university’s history.”

– Connie Ledoux Book, who has been elected by the Board of Trustees to serve as ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president

> Full information on ยายืสำฦต’s presidential transition website

> Video message from President-elect Connie Ledoux Book

“Connie Book has a deep appreciation of ยายืสำฦต’s history, culture, academic programs and student-centered values,” Anderson said. “Her distinguished 16-year career at ยายืสำฦต, combined with her senior leadership experience and many accomplishments at The Citadel, made her the unanimous choice of the board of trustees. This announcement of ยายืสำฦต’s first female president is a historic milestone and I invite all members of our community to welcome and congratulate Dr. Book on her selection. She is the right leader at the right time and we look forward to the ways she will advance our university.”

Book will succeed President Leo M. Lambert on March 1, 2018, and will visit campus periodically before then to prepare for the presidential transition. Lambert has served as ยายืสำฦต’s president since January 1999. He announced last February his intention to conclude his presidency and the board of trustees conducted a national search to find his successor.

Book was a member of Lambert’s senior staff from 2008 to 2010, serving as presidential faculty fellow for strategic planning, concentrating on development of the ยายืสำฦต Commitment strategic plan. She continued as a senior staff member when she was named associate provost for academic affairs in 2010, managing a broad range of academic programs and initiatives.

“I am thrilled and humbled to be chosen as ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president,” Book said. “ยายืสำฦต is one of America’s greatest success stories in higher education, defined by excellence in academics, experiential learning, global engagement and close relationships between students and their faculty and staff mentors. It has been a great honor to be associated with ยายืสำฦต through much of my professional life and I return to campus with enthusiasm to work with my colleagues to write the next defining chapters in the university’s history. To serve this committed, hardworking, learning-centered community as ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president will be the greatest privilege of my career.”

Book was recommended to the board of trustees by a 16-member Presidential Search Committee, led by trustee Wes Elingburg P’11, that included trustees, students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff. The search committee employed a hybrid search model, with an open phase at the beginning allowing nearly 7,000 members of the ยายืสำฦต community to provide input via a survey and campus forums. In the second phase, Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, a national higher education search consultant, contacted nearly 1,000 people about the search and assembled a pool of about 150 distinguished individuals, including many from the nation’s most elite institutions. The search committee selected and reviewed a group of top candidates and, following two rounds of interviews, selected two finalists to participate in the third phase, which included meetings and one-on-one sessions with more than 60 ยายืสำฦต trustees, faculty, staff, students, senior staff members and academic deans. Based on the results of this extensive evaluation process, the search committee unanimously recommended Book to the board of trustees. 

“Consistently, we heard from candidates that the ยายืสำฦต presidency was one of the top professional opportunities in higher education,” Elingburg said. “We gave serious consideration to many talented and impressive candidates. From the beginning, Connie Book stood out above all others. She is a passionate mentor for students, a skilled administrator with extensive knowledge of all aspects of the university and a strategic thinker who understands the challenges and opportunities facing higher education. She will be a great leader in the tradition of presidents Leo Lambert, Fred Young and Earl Danieley.”

Provost of The Citadel

In March 2015, Book was named the first female provost and dean in The Citadel’s 175-year history. The Citadel is one of six senior military colleges in the nation and about one-third of its graduates continue in service to the country.

Book serves as the second-ranking official at the college, responsible for all matters related to academic functions, including curriculum and instruction, research and scholarly activity, accreditation, admissions and financial aid and academic support services. She also leads strategic planning for The Citadel and chairs the Fiscal Review Board. In support of the success of student-athletes, she sits on the Southern Conference Council of Provosts and oversees athletics academic advising for the Citadel’s NCAA Division I programs. Her portfolio includes responsibility for about 1,100 faculty and staff and an operating budget of $144 million. She is a tenured professor in the Department of English, Fine Arts & Communications.

“Dr. Connie Book has been a pleasure to work with over the last several years,” said Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa, president of The Citadel. “Her dynamic leadership has set conditions for The Citadel to flourish, developing academic programs to fulfill the objectives in our strategic plan and setting application and enrollment records along the way. Her service to our institution was nothing short of extraordinary. We are proud to see her advance to the presidency of ยายืสำฦต and look forward to watching the impact of her leadership.”

At The Citadel, Book has launched new programs in nursing, engineering, cybersecurity, intelligence security and advanced STEM education. The new programs were supported by more than $15 million in new gifts, grants and state appropriations. New curricular offerings were designed with several business and government partners, including Boeing, Google and the U.S. Department of Defense. Book also led development of online graduate programs to serve military and federal employees across the country, leading to record growth of The Citadel’s graduate college, significantly increasing annual revenues.

Book has established several new offices at The Citadel – an office of study abroad and domestic programs, an office for undergraduate research and the Center for Teaching Innovation. She also worked with faculty to advance a Faculty Senate governance model, strengthen the academic advising requirement and launch a faculty diversity hiring program that has increased faculty diversity from 17 percent to 22 percent. She also leveraged donor funding to establish a position dedicated to connecting The Citadel’s faculty with neighboring K-12 schools.

Book embraced her groundbreaking position as the highest-ranking female leader at The Citadel, which admitted its first female cadets in 1996. Among her accomplishments has been an increase in the enrollment of underrepresented populations, including women and students of color.

“You can really see the impact – the positive impact – of women at The Citadel every day,” Book told the Charleston Post and Courier newspaper in a 2016 story about the 20th anniversary of the first female students. “They hold leadership roles and positions within the Corps of Cadets. They’re going on to stellar careers within the military and in civilian life and graduate school.”

In 2016 The Citadel also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the admission of its first African American cadet. In an article about that milestone, Book wrote that The Citadel had learned important lessons from racial integration and co-education. “Today the core values of Honor, Duty and Respect are deeply rooted in our leadership education program. We recognize and celebrate our diversity as a competitive advantage in our curriculum and our ability to develop principled and effective global leaders for the military and civilian sectors,” Book wrote.  

Sixteen years of ยายืสำฦต experience

Book joined the ยายืสำฦต faculty as assistant professor of communications in 1999, teaching courses in new media, broadcast policy, news writing, research and production. She was promoted to associate professor and was department chair from 2004 to 2006, when she was named associate dean of the School of Communications. Among her responsibilities were the school’s accreditation, faculty development, growth of the internship program, the school’s advisory board and the establishment of the ยายืสำฦต in Los Angeles and the ยายืสำฦต in New York programs.

As faculty fellow for strategic planning from 2008 to 2010, Book coordinated a 24-month process of creating the ยายืสำฦต Commitment strategic plan with input from hundreds of university stakeholders. The 10-year plan includes eight themes that continue to guide ยายืสำฦต’s development as a national university. Among Book’s duties as ยายืสำฦต’s new president will be to lead development of the university’s next long-range plan.

Book was promoted to professor and named associate provost for academic affairs in 2010, with responsibility for the ยายืสำฦต Core Curriculum, the ยายืสำฦต Experiences and student engagement, academic advising, student professional development, staff leadership and professional development, academic and residential facilities, athletic academic advising and domestic study programs. During her tenure, she spearheaded the complete redesign of career services programs and the establishment of the Student Professional Development Center, the creation and implementation of the residential campus plan, enrichments to ยายืสำฦต’s digital learning opportunities, development of the Study USA program and growth of civic engagement initiatives. Book received ยายืสำฦต’s Ward Family Excellence in Mentoring Award in 2009 for her sustained commitment to undergraduates.

“President-elect Connie Ledoux Book has been my close colleague and friend for the better part of two decades,” Lambert said. “She was a valued member of my senior leadership team for many years and I came to rely on her judgment, insight and innovative and collaborative spirit. She is incredibly smart, deeply understands ยายืสำฦต’s culture and values, and has a warm, engaging way about her. I have every confidence in President-elect Book’s capacity to lead ยายืสำฦต brilliantly, and look forward to watching her continuing success.”

An active scholar and consultant

In addition to her higher education leadership roles, Book continues to work as a telecommunications consultant, specializing in digital television, cable communications and broadband. She is author of “Digital Television: DTV and the Consumer,” the first book dedicated to understanding how the transition from analog to digital television impacted consumers. Her work has received five first-place awards from the National Association of Broadcasters’ educational group and several research grants.

Book’s research has been published in legal and academic journals. She has appeared on panels at the Federal Communications Commission, the National Cable Television Association, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors and regional cable television associations. She is often invited to lecture and moderate discussions on telecommunications issues.

The North Carolina Association of Broadcasters recognized Book with an Outstanding Service and Leadership Award in 2009 for her assistance with the state’s transition to digital television. She testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on the DTV transition in 2008 and that same year received a leadership citation from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors for research on the impact of state cable franchising in Texas.

As an advocate for transparency in government and open public records and meetings, Book conceived, established and served four years as executive director of North Carolina’s Sunshine Center, housed at ยายืสำฦต, and served two years as a board member for the center’s sponsoring group, the North Carolina Open Government Coalition.

A lifetime passion for teaching and learning

Book was born and raised in Louisiana by parents who were the children of cotton sharecroppers. Her parents took their nine children with them to college in the 1970s on a federally funded program designed to prepare leaders for K-12 education.

“Their example instilled in me a deep belief that opportunities for learning can transform lives, create strong leaders and, in turn, change the world,” Book said. “I often refer to this as the everyday miracle of higher education – the powerful idea that we can learn and forever change our destiny and the future of our families.”

Book earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree in education administration and supervision from Northwestern State University (Louisiana), and a doctorate from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. During her time as ยายืสำฦต’s associate provost, she also completed coursework with renowned higher education scholar and author Richard J. Light at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

“ยายืสำฦต has made an absolutely wonderful selection, choosing Connie Book to be its next president,” Light said. “I couldn’t imagine a more imaginative, creative and likable campus leader. She was an active participant in an advanced graduate class that I led, focusing on challenges facing strong, modern American universities. I think that often Connie taught the students as much as I did. Sometimes even more. ยายืสำฦต has made a spectacular choice for its next president. Connie Book truly exemplifies excellence.”

Book began her career as a producer and reporter at WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Prior to joining the ยายืสำฦต faculty, she served three years as assistant professor at Georgia College & State University, one year as visiting professor at North Carolina State University, and two years as assistant professor at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Book’s family includes her son, Joe Book, a 2017 ยายืสำฦต graduate, and her daughter, Bella Book, of Brookline, Massachusetts, a 2015 Mount Holyoke College graduate.

As we prepare for the opening of the 2017-18 academic year, I want to provide you with an update on the search for ยายืสำฦต’s ninth president. The Presidential Search Committee has worked diligently this summer. After receiving interest in the position from a large number of impressive candidates, the committee has conducted interviews with a group of outstanding individuals. They offer exceptional credentials and experiences and possess the personal qualities and character our community identified in the survey about ยายืสำฦต’s new president.

Candidates have been universal in their admiration of ยายืสำฦต and have described the ยายืสำฦต presidency as the premier leadership opportunity available. In particular, candidates are excited about ยายืสำฦต’s strong national position, trajectory for a bright future, teacher-scholar-mentor model, and student-centered mission.

I also want to let you know that a Presidential Transition Committee chaired by trustee Ed Doherty P’07 has been formed to oversee preparation for the new president and ensure a seamless leadership transition. A subcommittee chaired by trustee Bill Herbert ’68 will oversee recognition events in coming months for President and Mrs. Lambert, and a subcommittee chaired by trustee Ed Moriarty P’15 will plan inauguration ceremonies for the new president. Many members of the ยายืสำฦต community, including trustees, students faculty, staff, alumni, and parents will be asked to participate in the planning and implementation of these efforts.

Based on our success so far in the search, we remain confident in meeting our original goal of recommending a top candidate to the Board of Trustees this fall. Trustee, faculty, staff, and student members of the search committee are working hard and are highly focused on evaluating candidates. We are aware of our tremendous responsibility to the entire university community and are being thoughtful, thorough, and careful in our deliberations.

Sincerely,
Wesley Elingburg P’11
ยายืสำฦต Trustee
Chair, Presidential Search Committee