Ending an extensive nationwide search which included close consultation with many Dartmouth alumni, the College announced Tuesday that David Spalding '76 will succeed Stanley Colla '66, Tu'86 as Dartmouth's Vice President for Alumni Relations.
Spalding's post will require him to sustain strong ties among Dartmouth's nearly 60,000 alumni upon assuming his office in October. Spalding will also work closely with College President James Wright, serving on the College's senior management team.
Provost Barry Scherr said that the committee sought a candidate who possessed three specific criteria -- the ability to communicate the College's message passionately and effectively, to reach out to a vast and diverse alumni body and to assist the Alumni Relations office in developing innovative programming for Dartmouth alumni.
"David Spalding really did meet those criteria," Scherr said.
Scherr headed the search committee that hired Spalding, which included Ozzie Harris '81, special assistant to the president for institutional diversity and equity; Carolyn Pelzel, vice president for development; Alumni Council President Richard Routhier '73 Tu'76; former Alumni Council President Karen McKeel Calby '81 and Cheryl Reynolds, executive director and secretary to the Board of Trustees.
Scherr said that the search committee strove to make Dartmouth alumni aware of the search process and to obtain their input.
The committee solicited recommendations from alumni around the world and contacted over 1,200 Dartmouth alumni in the process. According to Scherr, the committee did not limit its search to Dartmouth graduates but did fancy an in-house product.
"Our preference was to have an alum fill the position," Scherr said.
Spalding has considerable experience in the corporate world. Since 1994, he has worked with the Cypress Group LLC, a New York-based private equity firm. He is currently its vice chairman. Spalding is also chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New York.
Scherr said that Spalding's work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation contributed to his appeal as a candidate.
As a Dartmouth student, Spalding was actively involved in the debate team and the student radio station, in addition to being a brother of Alpha Delta fraternity.
Following his graduation from Dartmouth, Spalding was hired by Chase Manhattan Bank and was eventually appointed second vice president. After receiving his M.B.A. from New York University, Spalding served as vice president of the First National Bank of Chicago.
As an alumnus, Spalding has remained closely connected to Dartmouth.
He currently serves on the President's Leadership Council and sat previously on the Dartmouth College Fund committee. Spalding has also served as a member of the reunion giving committee for his class's 20th, 25th and 30th reunions.
Director of Alumni Relations Nelson Armstrong has yet to meet Spalding and was not a part of the search committee but commented that he looks forward to working with Spalding.
"I think the committee has done an outstanding job in finding an alum that can do the things we want to do," Armstrong said.
Spalding has previously served as Senior Vice President of General Electric Corporate Finance Group, as well as Lehman Brothers.
Colla, who announced his decision to retire in January, served as vice president for alumni relations since 1993 and is the senior member of the president's management team.
Spalding was unavailable for comment.
