Nomination and Election of a Member of the University Board of Trustees

Process

1. This fall, the Alumni Association will solicit nominees from all alumni for consideration to be one of three candidates on an alumni ballot for election to the Washington and Lee University Board of Trustees. Various digital and print methods, including the W&L Magazine, Generally Speaking, W&L alumni social media platforms, and emails to all contactable alumni, will communicate the election process. 
   
   For the current election cycle, nominations must be submitted by Oct. 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. All candidates must provide the required information for consideration to the Alumni Board by Oct. 13, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
2. Any  alumnus or alumna is eligible to nominate an alumnus or alumna.
3. The Alumni Engagement Office will send each person nominated a link to the Trustee Job Description, Responsibilities of the Board, and Strategic Plan documents, which are the Board's controlling documents. Each person wishing to advance for formal consideration will be asked to accept the nomination and:
   
   • affirm an understanding and acceptance of the controlling documents;
   • agree to serve faithfully if elected; and
   • assert qualifications and the desire to serve if elected.
4. The eight members of the Alumni Board's Trustee Election Committee are:
   
   • Alumni Association president Jane Ledlie Batcheller ’03 ‘08L (chair)
   • Alumni Association vice president Sandy Hooper '97 '03L
   • Meredith King Ledford ‘03
   • Jerry Maatman ‘78
   • Bert Ponder ‘83
   • Jessica Taylor White ‘04
   • Rachel Weingartner ‘06
   • Executive Director of Alumni and Career Services John Jensen ‘01
5. The  Trustee Election Committee will meet as often as necessary with the goal of choosing three alumni for the ballot who have significant talent, experience, W&L service, and diverse perspectives. 
   
   The full Alumni Board will receive the proposed slate and approve the three finalists for the ballot.
6. By the end of January 2024, after notifying nominees who were not selected for the ballot, the Alumni Association will email the ballot to all alumni and open electronic voting for a designated period of time. A Colonnade Connections account is required to vote in the Alumni Trustee election. No proxy voting is allowed.
7. The winner's name will be given in confidence to the Trusteeship Committee of the Board of Trustees. The expectation is that the winner will then be elected at the Trustees' February 2024 meeting absent extraordinary circumstances in which the Trustees, in the exercise of their fiduciary duties, find that the winner is disqualified from effective service as a Trustee.
8. The Alumni Association expects to announce the winner in February 2024, and that this new Trustee will take the oath at the Board of Trustees' meeting in May 2024.