Endicott College Provost Search

September 29, 2026

Dear Endicott Community,

As our search for Endicott’s next Provost and Chief Academic Officer enters a new stage, we want to share a brief update on our progress and thank everyone who has helped shape the process so far.

From the start, we committed to building a candidate profile that reflects the unique current and future needs of our campus. Throughout September, we held dedicated listening sessions with faculty, staff, adjunct instructors, administrators, and students. These open conversations gave us an honest look at what is working well, where there are opportunities to improve, and what kind of partner we need in academic leadership.

We have now incorporated those themes directly into the official Provost Candidate Profile, the main document we will use to introduce Endicott to prospective candidates across the country.

The completed candidate profile has gone live as we officially open the position for applications. Please share the posting and profile with your network to ensure we reach a wide and qualified audience—networking is critical!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to join a session or send in notes. Your input has given us a clear roadmap for what to look for as we review candidates in the weeks ahead.

We will continue to keep you posted as the search moves forward.

Brandi Johnson & Jon Payson
Co-Chairs, Provost Search Committee
Endicott College

September 16, 2026

Dear Endicott Community,

On behalf of President Cain, we are pleased to announce the members of the Search Committee for Endicott College’s next Provost:

• Brandi Johnson, Co-Chair: Vice President of Belonging & Strategic Engagement
• Jon Payson, Co-Chair: Member, Board of Trustees
• Alefiya Albers: Professor, School of Social Sciences, Communication, & Humanities
• Paul Antonellis: Director of Assessment & Academic Programs
• Michael Diehl: Professor, School of Science & Technology
• Taylor Dunn: Assistant Vice President and Campaign Director
• Donny Femino: Assistant Vice President of Research & Planning
• Matthew Heiser: Vice President and Dean of Students
• Paige Williams: Dean, School of Visual & Performing Arts

We are grateful to each member for their willingness to serve and for the time, perspective, and care they will bring to this important process.

The Search Committee will review applications, interview candidates, and advance its recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which appoints the Provost in accordance with the College’s bylaws.

As a reminder, the remaining listening sessions will be held in the Rose Theater:

• Thursday, September 17, from 2–3 p.m. - Staff*
• Friday, September 18, from 9–10 a.m. - Faculty*

*Questions may be geared toward a specific audience, but members of the community are invited to attend any session that works with their schedule.

Once the listening sessions are complete, the Provost Profile will be shared with the community. The profile will incorporate what we have learned through the listening sessions, along with input from Dr. Quay and members of the Board’s Academic Affairs Committee. It will reflect the priorities, experiences, and qualities our community believes are important in Endicott’s next academic leader.

Thank you to everyone who has participated and shared thoughtful feedback. We look forward to keeping the Endicott community informed as the search moves forward.

For updates and additional information, please visit the Provost Search website. Please reach out to provostsearch@endicott.edu with any questions.

With gratitude,

Brandi Johnson & Jon Payson
Co-Chairs, Provost Search Committee

August 26, 2026

Dear Faculty & Staff,

As we begin the search for Endicott’s next Provost, we want to ensure that the process is informed by the voices of our community.

If you have not already done so, please sign up for an upcoming listening session. Your feedback will help shape the Provost Profile and identify the qualities, experiences, and leadership characteristics most important in Endicott’s next academic leader.

• Friday, August 28, 10–11 a.m. – Faculty (Klebanoff Auditorium)
• Friday, September 4, 10–11 a.m. – Staff (Rose Theater)
• Friday, September 4, 3–4 p.m. – Adjunct Faculty (Zoom)
• Wednesday, September 9, 1–2 p.m. – Faculty (Rose Theater)
• Monday, September 21, 7 p.m. – Student Government Association
• Thursday, September 17, 2–3 p.m. – Staff (Rose Theater)
• Friday, September 18, 9–10 a.m. – Faculty (Rose Theater)

Thank you for lending your voice to this important process. We hope you will join us.

Sincerely,

Brandi Johnson, Vice President for Belonging and Strategic Engagement & Ryan Graf, Director of Talent Strategy and Compensation

August 14, 2026

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Recently, I shared an update on the transition in academic leadership and our plans to begin the search for Endicott's next Provost.

Today, I want to provide additional information about the search process and the opportunities for our community to help shape this important decision.

First, to promote transparency throughout the search, we have launched a dedicated Provost Search website, which will serve as the central source of information for the Endicott community and, as the process progresses, for prospective candidates. We will continue to update the site with key milestones, materials, and other relevant information, and I encourage you to check back often as the search moves forward.

Additionally, in accordance with the Endicott College Bylaws, Trustee Jon Payson and Brandi Johnson, Vice President for Belonging and Strategic Engagement, will serve as co-chairs of the Provost Search Committee. Ryan Graf, Director of Talent Strategy and Compensation, will support the committee, with additional members to be announced in early September.

A successful national search begins with listening. Before we recruit candidates, we want to hear from members of the Endicott community about the qualities, experiences, and leadership characteristics that are most important in our next Provost.

Throughout August and September, we will hold a series of listening sessions for members of our campus community organized around specific campus constituencies. Feedback gathered during these conversations will be used to develop the Provost Profile, which will guide the search process and define the qualities we seek in our next academic leader. Once complete, the profile will be shared with the Endicott community and on the Provost Search website.

I encourage you to participate in one of the following listening sessions:

• Friday, August 28, 10–11 a.m. – Faculty (Klebanoff Auditorium)
• Friday, September 4, 10–11 a.m. – Staff (Rose Theater)
• Friday, September 4, 3–4 p.m. – Adjunct Faculty (Zoom)
• Wednesday, September 9, 1–2 p.m. – Faculty (Rose Theater)
• Monday, September 14, 7 p.m. – Student Government Association
• Thursday, September 17, 2–3 p.m. – Staff (Rose Theater)
• Friday, September 18, 9–10 a.m. – Faculty (Rose Theater)

Please RSVP so we can have an accurate count of attendees at each session.

Our strongest decisions are made when they are informed by the perspectives of our community, and I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to help shape the future of academic leadership at Endicott. Your perspectives will ensure we identify a Provost who will build on our strengths while advancing the College’s mission and strategic priorities.

Thank you in advance for your participation and engagement. Following this initial phase of the process, future Provost Search communications to the Endicott community will come from Search Committee Co-Chairs Trustee Jon Payson and Vice President Brandi Johnson, who will keep the community informed as the search progresses. I look forward to hearing your ideas and appreciate your continued engagement as we move through this process together.

Sincerely,

Bryan Cain, Ph.D.
President
Endicott College