Presidential Search

Pacific University is pleased to announce its selection of Dr. Jennifer Coyle as the university’s 18th president.

She will succeed President Lesley M. Hallick, who retires this summer following 13 years leading Pacific and 32 years at Oregon Health & Sciences University.

“Dr. Coyle is a top university president candidate and a perfect fit for Pacific University,” said Presidential Search Committee Chair Mark Frandsen. “The search committee and the board have great confidence in the leadership that Dr. Coyle will bring to Pacific. We are fortunate that she has a deep connection to our community and culture. She exemplifies the Pacific mission and commitment to student support and success, along with excellence in academic scholarship and research.”

Meet Dr. Coyle

Search Committee

Based on Pacific Board of Trustees bylaws, the search committee is comprised of trustees, along with representatives from the faculty, staff, student and alumni communities.

Mark Frandsen, Chair, Trustee
Owner, Grove Properties, LLC 

Ann Barr-Gillespie, Vice President
Pacific University Academic Affairs and Provost

Julie Berglund Baker, Trustee
Business Manager, Baker Land Surveys, Inc. 

Lauren Brownrigg, Staff
Senior Associate Athletic Director & Senior Woman Administrator

Sheri Garboden ’76, Trustee
Senior Director of Human Resources (retired), FLIR Systems, Inc. 

Mike Henningsen, Trustee
President (retired), Henningsen Cold Storage 

Dan James ’87, Trustee
Chief Workforce and Strategy Officer, Bonneville Power Administration 

Peter Kohler, Trustee
CEO Our Pharma, LLC
President Emeritus, Oregon Health & Science University

James Kundart MEd ’99, OD ’99, PhD ’23, Faculty
Pacific University College of Optometry 

Emmanuel Luvert ’17, PhDEL ’22, Student 

Jim Moore, Faculty
College of Arts & Sciences
Director of Political Outreach, Tom McCall Center for Civic Engagement  

Doan Pham ’22, Student  

Nancy Phillips ’77, MAT ’82, Trustee
Co-owner, Pac/West Communications 

Narce Rodriguez, Vice President
Pacific University Student Affairs & Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer  

Tim Schauermann ’66, Trustee, Past Board Chair
President (retired), Schauermann Insurance Associates, Inc. 

Pete Truax ’69, MAT ’83, Alumnus
Mayor of Forest Grove, Broadcaster, Educator (retired)

Jerry Yoshida ’73, Chair, Board of Trustees
Shareholder, Director and Officer, Char Hamilton Yoshida & Shimomoto; Partner, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel

Timeline

The Pacific University Presidential Search Committee selected R. William Funk & Associates as a partner in managing the search for the university’s next president. The firm conducted preliminary meetings in December 2021 with constituent groups including the search committee, senior leadership teams, University Council, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Undergraduate Student Senate and Professional Student Senate, and it issued an online survey to all university employees in early January. The constituent meetings and survey guided development of the description of the opportunity, the definition of the position and the statement of qualifications and characteristics being sought for a new president. A complete Leadership Statement was released in January, and advertising in a broad range of academic publications and websites was initiated.

Dr. Jennifer Coyle was mentioned by multiple people as a desired candidate during the constituent meetings. Due to the competitive candidate landscape, an accelerated process was initiated. The search committee conducted an initial interview and voted to invite the candidate for an in-person interview with members of the University Council. UC members provided feedback to the Presidential Search Committee, and the committee voted to nominate Dr. Coyle to the Board of Trustees as president of Pacific University. The board interviewed Dr. Coyle and voted unanimously to offer her the position.