Presidential Search
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has commenced a search for a new President. The next president will build on the transformative achievements of James C. Carrington, PhD who will step down from his role as president and CEO on July 1, 2025, after 14 years of service.
Leadership Profile and Recruitment
View or download the leadership profile for information about the Danforth Center and qualifications for the next President.
The Danforth Center Search Advisory Committee (SAC) is working in partnership with leadership recruitment consultants at WittKieffer to identify a diverse slate of candidates with the ability and desire to meet the criteria and leadership profile for the role of President. The process to create the leadership profile has been inclusive, actively engaging the stakeholders of the Center, the St. Louis region and beyond.
Search Advisory Committee
The Presidential Search Advisory Committee was selected to represent the Danforth Center’s community and reflect the Center’s mission, vision, and values. Stated by Penny Pennington, Board Chair, “There is no more important role for a Board of Directors than to identify, support, encourage, and share responsibility of leadership with the President of an esteemed institution such as the Danforth Plant Science Center. Our Board and Search Advisory Committee will fulfill this privileged responsibility with diligence and rigor.” Members of the search advisory committee include:
Board of Directors
- Penny Pennington, Board Chair, Managing Partner Edward Jones
- Lisa Ainsworth, PhD, Professor of Plant Biology, USDA-ARS, Photosynthesis Research Unit, University of Illinois — Urbana-Champaign
- Desiree Coleman-Fry, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance
- Wes Jones, Co-Founder and Principal, Sage Capital, LLC
- Ruth Kim, JD General Counsel, Senior Vice President and Senior Partner, FleishmanHillard
- Andrew Martin, PhD Chancellor, Washington University in St. Louis
- William l. Polk, Jr., Managing Partner, Egis Capital Partners
- Todd Schnuck, Immediate Past Chair | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Principal Investigators and Leadership Team
- Becky Bart, PhD, Member and Interim Vice President for Research
- Noah Fahlgren, PhD, Director Data Science Facility
- Malia Gehan , PhD, Associate Member
- Anna Dibble, Vice President for People and Culture
Scientific Advisory Board
- Eric Ward, PhD, SAB Chair, President, AgBiome, Inc.
Timeline
July 2024: Announcement of Presidential Search, stakeholder listening sessions and development of the leadership profile
Late August 2024 – early November: Candidate engagement and recruitment
November 2024: Selection of candidates to interview
December – January 2025: Candidate interviews
February 2025: Finalist selection and approval of the new President by the Board of Directors