After five years at the College, President Lee Higdon is leaving us to become the 10th president of Connecticut College a private liberal arts school similiar in size to that of the Citadel. Higdon will succeed Norman Fainstein in July. The Board of Trustees will steer a committee to find the 21st president of the College of Charleston.
During his tenure at the College, Higdon oversaw the physical expansion of the school to 16 building projects, including the Nathan Addlestone Library and Beatty Center for the School of Business and Economics, the hiring of 67 new faculty members, the addition of six undergraduate degrees, five graduate degrees and six interdisciplinary minors. A businessman by trade, Higdon raised over $61 million in private funds during his tenure. His latest expansion for the school was to bulldoze the parking garage on George and St. Phillips streets to make room for retail store space with upper-class dorms built above (a mirror of King Street if you will.)
Higdon joined the College after being dean of UVA's Darden Graduate School of Business Admin and president of Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. Lee Higdon began his career working in the Peace Corps before moving into the global investment wing of Salomon Brothers (see Michael Lewis' book Liar's Poker for more information.) He left Wall Street with a fat wallet from leading the global investment banking division as vice chairman and member of the executive committee at Salomon Brothers.
My senior year at the College (Victory Lap) President Higdon tapped me to be on the President's Ad Hoc Committee for Retention. Higdon's vision for the school and standards of excellence was remarkable and it was a privilege to work with (for) him. Many of the College's family will find his departure hard to swallow, but I, for one, find it to be a refreshing strategy for success. Many executives at Higdon's level find that after 5-years at an executive position they become stagnant. That is why young lions, such as Higdon, hit the ground running, tap all of their energy by throwing themselves into making significant changes to the institution, charting a course of success that will last well beyond their tenure. And that shall be the legacy of President Higdon for the College of Charleston. The 4th Century iniative is not just one man, but it is all of us, and those who carry the eternal torch once we are gone. God Speed Lee Higdon; the Bushido will miss seeing you at the basketball games.
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Effective June 30, I am resigning as President of the College of Charleston to begin my new duties as President of Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. This has been an extremely difficult decision, and I will truly miss working with the College of Charleston community.
It is particularly difficult because we have made so many friends and have enjoyed so much our time at the College. But this is an excellent opportunity for me and my family, and I believe that the time is right to make a change. CofC has successfully completed the Fourth Century Initiative, we’re poised for the next move forward, and our capital plans are in place. My intent now is to set the process in motion for the next strategic plan before I leave, with its completion coinciding with the arrival of the next president.
Both the Board of Trustees and its Chair are committed to the College’s success, and there’s strong academic/administrative leadership in place. Our leadership team has worked on our plans and is clearly capable of leading the institution during this transition period as a successor is sought. Additionally, the College has never been stronger financially, with record fund raising, the highest endowment in our history, and very strong ties to the legislature.
Although I’m leaving the College in an official capacity, Ann and I very much want to retain our Charleston ties. We plan to keep our house here, and we hope to maintain our many Charleston friendships. You have been kind and welcoming to us, and we will never forget that. And we expect to return to Charleston often, especially in the winter.
Thank you for making this an exciting and very successful five years. Your commitment and hard work has made it possible for the College to thrive during the most difficult period for public education in our State.
I take no credit for our success, because you are the ones who have made it happen. And while I will no longer be your president, I will look forward to seeing the College reach greater heights of recognition and success in the years to come.
Thank you, once more, for everything — Ann and I wish you all the best.
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