Presidential Search

Dear Members of the Babson Community,

I am pleased to share more details about the search for Babson College’s next president and our plan to involve the community in this important work.

It is an honor to serve as Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. In collaboration with Chair of the Board of Trustees Jeffery Perry, we are committed to conducting a thoughtful, inclusive, global, and transparent search to identify exceptional candidates who can lead this remarkable institution.

Our search committee is a diverse group of dedicated members of the Babson community. I am pleased to introduce the following representatives from the Board, faculty, staff, alumni, and students who comprise the Presidential Search Committee:

• Martha Buckley MBA’23, alumna
• Edward Chiu, Governor Craig R. Benson Endowed Executive Vice President for Advancement
• Brayden Cole, Class of 2027 Undergraduate Student and President of the Student Government Association (SGA)
• Katherine P. Craven P’22, Executive Vice President, Administration & Finance 
• Danna Greenberg, Walter H. Carpenter Professor of Organizational Behavior in the Management Division
• Kristi Girdharry, Associate Teaching Professor in the Arts & Humanities Division
• Brett Gordon MBA’98, Trustee
• Audrey McLoghlin, Trustee
• Ramon A. Mendiola ’86, P’20 ’21 ’23 ’28, Trustee
• Kenneth G. Romanzi ’82, Trustee
• Somia Farid Silber ’15, Trustee
• Amanda G. Strong ’87, Trustee Emerita
• Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis, John H. Muller Jr. Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies in the Entrepreneurship Division

Executive Vice President Kelly Lynch will be my principal advisor, and Eddie Cullinane, Director of Governance & Presidential Engagement, will support the search effort.

As Chair Perry shared, we have partnered with Russell Reynolds Associates, a respected search firm with deep higher education experience, to assist us in this endeavor.

Community engagement is a top priority for the committee. In the coming days, we will initiate a comprehensive and inclusive process to gather input as we define the leadership profile for Babson’s next president.

Input Survey: Starting today, you can provide input and share nomination ideas through this online survey, which will remain open until June 15. I ask that you help inform the committee’s early work by actively participating in this survey and providing your thoughts on Babson’s future and the leadership qualities essential for advancing our mission.

Input Survey

Shortly, we will begin scheduling sessions for our community to directly engage with the committee and the Russell Reynolds team. Please keep an eye out for invitations to meet virtually this month and in person at the start of the next academic year.

We are dedicated to keeping the community informed through regular updates and clear communication regarding significant milestones. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the presidential search website at any time.

Thank you for your engagement and commitment to Babson. I look forward to collaborating with you in the coming months.

With appreciation,
James A. Rullo MBA’85, Trustee
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

Dear Members of the Babson Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank President Stephen Spinelli Jr. for his extraordinary leadership of Babson College and to share an update regarding the presidential transition process.

President Spinelli’s decision to retire at the end of June 2027 provides an important moment to recognize the impact of his presidency. As a Babson alumnus, Steve has led the College with deep personal commitment, a clear sense of purpose, and an unwavering belief in Babson’s mission and future.

During his tenure, Babson has strengthened its standing as the world’s leading institution for entrepreneurial leadership. Steve led the development and execution of a bold, community-informed strategy that established Entrepreneurial Leadership as Babson’s defining and enduring advantage. That strategy has guided the College through challenge and opportunity alike and continues to shape its trajectory. Through this work, he has advanced a constructive partnership with the Board of Trustees and deepened engagement with the faculty, strengthening a shared governance model that supports effective decision-making and institutional alignment.

Under Steve’s leadership, Babson achieved record fundraising success through a historic comprehensive campaign, significantly strengthened the endowment, and sustained strong demand across undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong learning programs. The College also has continued to earn top national and global rankings, reinforcing Babson’s reputation for excellence and impact. These outcomes reflect a clear focus on delivering meaningful return on investment for our learners across all stages of their academic and professional journeys.

A defining milestone of Steve’s presidency has been the creation of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership. This initiative reflects Babson’s long-term commitment to advancing the field, supporting faculty research, and establishing entrepreneurial leadership as both a scholarly discipline and a force for positive change worldwide.

Throughout his presidency, Steve has remained focused on learners, innovation, and inclusive excellence, while fostering a culture that brings the community together. His leadership has positioned Babson to ascend and thrive amid significant external headwinds facing higher education. The Board is deeply grateful for his leadership and proud of the strong foundation he has helped build.

The Board of Trustees has begun a thoughtful and deliberate process to plan for Babson’s next president. I am pleased to announce that Trustee James A. Rullo MBA’85 has been appointed Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. Jim brings deep experience, sound judgment, and a strong connection to Babson’s mission and aspirations.

To support this effort, the Board has retained Russell Reynolds Associates as Babson’s executive search partner. Russell Reynolds brings deep experience in leadership searches and will work closely with the committee to ensure a rigorous, comprehensive process aligned with Babson’s mission and aspirations. Additional information about the search process will be shared in the days ahead.

President Spinelli will continue to lead the College with focus and dedication as we move forward, and the Board remains committed to ensuring a smooth and successful transition that builds on Babson’s momentum and strengths.

Please join me in thanking Steve for his exceptional service and leadership of Babson College.

With gratitude,
Jeffery S. Perry ’87, P’23
Chair, Board of Trustees
Babson College

Dear Members of the Babson Community,

I am writing to share a personal and institutional update. After much reflection, I have informed the Board of Trustees that I will retire as President of Babson College at the end of June 2027.

This decision is deeply meaningful to me. From student to alumnus, professor to president, Babson shaped my life and career. Serving this institution and community has been my greatest professional honor. I share this news with gratitude for what we have accomplished together and confidence in the road ahead.

Babson is strong. We have seen record student demand, historic fundraising success, and sustained financial resilience. These results reflect faculty excellence in teaching and research, acute management, cross-community collaboration, and a shared commitment to Babson’s mission and values.

We are clear in our strategy. Through a comprehensive and inclusive planning process, we defined Entrepreneurial Leadership as our competitive advantage and launched our strategy, Entrepreneurial Leaders Impacting Communities Everywhere. That strategy was tested during the COVID-19 pandemic and validated by the market and our historic rankings. In the years since, our community, the College’s leadership team, and the Board of Trustees have aligned around ambitious aspirations for greatness that continue to guide our work.

We also have demonstrated agility in execution by expanding flexible delivery, embracing innovation, and scaling models that meet learners where they are. Our focus remains firmly on learners, prioritizing outcomes, access, lifelong value, and inclusive excellence.

Importantly, we are positioning Babson for the future. We are building one integrated, durable business model designed to adapt and lead. The creation of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership marks a defining moment, advancing faculty research, strengthening the field, and introducing the first conceptual model of Entrepreneurial Leadership. Lifelong learning, anchored in the new Executive Lodge and Conference Center and scalable through technology, is being realized.

Above all, Babson’s continued ascension speaks to who we have become as a community, aligned in purpose and strengthened by the momentum we now carry into the future.

Between now and June 2027, I remain fully committed to Babson and to advancing our strategy and momentum. After June 2027, I will always be a loyal supporter. I look forward to continuing this important work alongside you and supporting a thoughtful and successful leadership transition.

Thank you for your trust, partnership, and belief in Babson. Our best chapters are ahead.

With appreciation and confidence,
Steve

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD
President, Babson College