Selecting a new university president is a monumental task. The Presidential Search Committee faced the challenge of reviewing hundreds of pages of resumes, hours of interviews, and carefully vetting candidates to find the right leader for McMurry University. Kathi Edwards, chair of the board of trustees and co-chair of the search committee, shared insights into the process that led to the selection of Dr. Lynne Murray as McMurry University’s 11th president.
“The first step was hiring a search firm — EFL Associates, led by search consultant Steve Waldron and project manager Edith Ketay,” said Edwards. “We asked them to bring us the most diverse pool of qualified candidates that they could.”.
EFL launched a nationwide search and attracted a competitive pool of more than 100 applicants.
By mid-July, Edwards and co-chair, David Bailey, chair-elect of the board of trustees, narrowed the pool to 23 candidates who were presented to the full presidential search committee. “From the very start, Dr. Murray’s experience set her apart,” Edwards said. “She had 10 years as a sitting president at Baker University. That was extremely important to us.”
The search committee reviewed over 400 pages of resumes and CVs, ranking candidates against eight criteria. After careful deliberation, seven highly qualified semifinalists were
invited for interviews.
Throughout the process, Dr. Murray emerged as a front runner. Finding McMurry’s Next President “She is a very sincere person who listens to people and wants to have those around her have input,” Edwards said. “Her leadership style just seemed to really mesh with the culture of McMurry.”
Although the committee initially planned to bring two or three finalists to campus, it became clear after virtual interviews that Dr. Murray was the top choice. She was invited to visit the campus, where she had lunch with students, met with faculty and staff, and held two town halls to speak about her experience and vision for the university and answer questions about how she would lead.
The campus community provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, with over 90% of survey responses in support of her candidacy. The final step in the process was Dr. Murray’s presentation to the Board of Trustees, who unanimously elected her as McMurry’s next president.
“Dr. Murray is joining McMurry at a pivotal time, following our recent Centennial, two straight years of record enrollment, and two of our highest consecutive years of fundraising,”
said Edwards. “We sought a leader who could build on this momentum, and we are confident that Dr. Murray’s accomplishments and strategic approach align superbly with the
qualities outlined in our presidential job prospectus. We believe she will not only sustain our progress but also guide McMurry into a new era of growth and achievement.”
Since her initial on-campus interview, Dr. Murray has returned to McMurry twice: once to host a press conference for local media and again during Homecoming, where she engaged with the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Board of Visitors, and the broader alumni community. Dr. Murray’s first day as president will be January 10, 2025. McMurry is excited to welcome and support her as she guides the institution into its second century.