Office of the President
President Search Updates
Midland University is Progressing in its Search for its Next President
July 11, 2024
President Jody Horner announced that she will retire during the 2024-25 academic year once a replacement has been named. Executive search firm CarterBaldwin has been engaged to work with the 9-member search committee throughout the process of finding Midland’s next president.
Although applications will be accepted until the time that a new President is appointed, candidates should submit application materials consisting of a resume and a letter of interest addressed to the President Search Committee by August 30, 2024, for most favorable consideration. Nominations, expressions of interest, and applications should be submitted to MidlandPresident@carterbaldwin.com.
On September 5, CarterBaldwin will visit the Midland University campus for listening sessions with faculty and staff. More information will be available at the start of the school year about these sessions.
The goal is for a new president to be named early in 2025.
Midland University will continue to provide updates throughout the search process.
Midland University has finalized a search committee as it begins the process of finding a replacement for President Jody Horner, who announced that she will retire during the 2024-25 academic year once a replacement has been named.
Executive search firm Carter Baldwin has been engaged to work with the search committee in the process. Bill Peterson, a partner at Carter Baldwin, will serve as the lead for the search and will be supported by Dr. Stephanie Steele, Search Consultant, and Tatum Preston, Director of Research.
Members of the nine-person search committee are:
- Peggy Hall – Former Vice President of Mission and Spiritual Care Immanuel Communities/Midland University Board of Directors
- Rico Munn ‘93 – Chief of Staff, Office of the President Colorado State University/ Midland University Board of Directors
- Brett Richmond – President & CEO Methodist Fremont Health/Midland University Board of Directors
- Mary Shannon – President & CEO Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters/Midland University Board of Directors
- Tony Urban ‘92 – Principal, Tax Services, RSM/Midland University Board of Directors
- Keith Kramme ‘87 – Director of Student Success/Director of Athletic Student Achievement, Midland University
- Jon Moxness – Associate Professor of Business, Midland University
- Lauren Pimentel – Midland University Senior/President of Student Senate 2024-25
- Cindy Slykhuis – Vice President – Marketing & Community Engagement RVR Bank
Midland University will provide periodic updates throughout the search process. Members of the campus community will be able to participate in upcoming listening sessions. More information about those sessions will be shared in the coming weeks.
Jody Horner was announced as Midland University’s 16th president in December of 2014 and has guided the university to exponential growth during her tenure.
Horner oversaw the development and opening of the Omaha location in 2017 and her eye for innovation-led Midland to introduce the 1:1 Initiative in 2019 where each student on the Fremont campus receives a free iPad and Apple Pencil. She has also been a part of numerous campus improvements, including the addition of Midland’s newest residence hall in 2020 with the completion of the Miller Hall, a $10 million project.
The Midland athletic department has grown to 33 varsity sports and more than 900 student-athletes during her time as president, making it the largest athletic program in the state and one of the largest in the country.
In addition to student support and athletic enhancements, the university has expanded to more than 250 opportunities in the arts, added numerous clubs and student groups, and launched new options for graduate studies.
Prior to her arrival at Midland, Horner served as President of Cargill Meat Solutions and Cargill Case Ready. Responsible for a multi-billion dollar corporation that supplies some of the world’s largest retailers and leading more than 3,000 employees, Horner facilitated a high-growth strategy through approaches that increased employee engagement while dramatically reducing turnover at all levels. Before taking over Cargill Meat Solutions and Cargill Case Ready, she served as president of one of the world’s largest food, industrial, and agricultural salt enterprises.
As an advocate for the power of education and innovation, Horner championed the successful launch of the Cargill Innovation Center. A $15 million investment, the project created a world-class destination for collaborative efforts by food scientists, microbiologists, and culinary teams engaged in research and development.
In addition to extensive corporate success, Horner has applied her skills to leadership in higher education. She has actively served on the Board of Regents for St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. A featured classroom speaker, she draws on previous experiences managing college recruiting at Cargill to consider methods of better connecting students with employers at graduation.
Horner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from St. Olaf College and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management.
Contacts:
General Inquiries
Jess Knoell
Phone: 402-941-6142
knoell@midlandu.edu
Media Inquiries