BW narrows field in search for next president, announces new interim leadership

The appointment of Greg Flanik '97, MBA '10, as interim president sets the stage for the arrival of BW's 10th president.

Baldwin Wallace University's Presidential Search Committee is reviewing finalists from what committee chair Paul Clark describes as "an amazing pool of candidates" as the institution prepares to name its 10th president.

As part of this transition, the Baldwin Wallace Board of Trustees has implemented several changes in university leadership designed to set the stage for the next president's arrival.

Chief Operating Officer Greg Flanik '97, MBA '10, has been appointed Interim President as part of a return to a traditional leadership structure.

At the same time, an internal search has begun for an Interim Provost following Dr. Tom Sutton's announced retirement as Acting President and Interim Provost.

New transitional leadership structure

The Office of the President (OP), a four-person leadership team established in July to guide the university through critical organizational changes, has been disbanded as BW moves into the next phase of leadership transition.

"These changes will lay a foundation for the future, paving the way for the arrival of our next president," said Lee Thomas '76, Chair of the Baldwin Wallace University Board of Trustees. "The Board is confident Greg will prepare the university for our next president."

The leadership transition includes several key changes:

• OP member Ellen Zegarra will return to her role as Vice President of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
• OP member Greg Cingle will resume his position as Chief Financial Officer
• Flanik will convene a traditional President's Cabinet, charged with ensuring proper checks and balances across leadership areas, gathering meaningful input from faculty and staff, and providing transparent reporting on decisions and actions that move the University forward.

Accomplished alumnus, campus leader

Flanik, who brings 26 years of experience at BW to the role of Interim President, also plans to focus the cabinet on building relationships across campus and with external partners and fostering collaboration across all teams.

In his previous roles at BW, including vice president of operations and chief information officer, Flanik demonstrated strong leadership in strategic planning and project management. His achievements include leading campus-wide digital transformation initiatives, implementing remote learning technology during the pandemic and establishing improved data management systems.

As a member of the OP, Flanik most recently helped BW forge a transformation plan to begin stabilizing BW's operating budget, streamline administrative functions and sharpen the University's focus on essential work that benefits the student experience.

University leadership will continue to work closely with the special committee of the Board of Trustees to achieve these goals and prepare for the arrival of the new president. 

An announcement from the Presidential Search Committee is expected in the first quarter of 2025.