Officials launched the search for GW’s next vice president and general counsel Tuesday after current General Counsel Charles Barber announced that he intended to step down from the role in June.
University President Ellen Granberg said she launched a search committee for GW’s next top lawyer in an email to faculty and staff Tuesday, with officials aiming to fill the position by the start of the next academic year. The search follows GW’s announcement last week that Barber will step down from the general counsel position on June 30 after five years in the role, before transitioning to a short-term advisory role to assist Granberg.
“Our next General Counsel will play a critical role in advancing GW’s mission while helping guide us through an evolving and increasingly complex environment for higher education,” Granberg said in the email.
Granberg said she appointed a committee co-chaired by Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Emily Hammond and Chief of Staff Scott Mory to lead the search. The search advisory committee includes eight additional members, including two school deans, two vice presidents, two members of the Board of Trustees, the deputy general counsel and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee chair.
GW also retained two consultants — Anastasia Crosswhite and Ellen Pennow — from executive search and leadership consulting firm Spencer Stuart to lead the search, per the email. Granberg said Crosswhite, who is based in New York, and Pennow, who is based in D.C., have previously led searches for general counsels at similar institutions to GW and encouraged the community to submit nominations for the position.
Crosswhite in 2020 worked on Cornell University’s search to find its next vice president and general counsel. She’s also been a part of several presidential and top official searches for Spencer Stuart, including Quinnipiac University and Hofstra University’s presidential searches and Washington University in St. Louis’ search for a new business school dean.
Granberg said officials are looking for a general counsel to manage the University’s long-term interests while also valuing the opportunity to, with others, champion innovation across GW’s mission and effectively communicate with the community, including officials, the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff. She said Barber’s successor will deliver clear, prompt and practical advice, help anticipate and navigate risks to the University and uphold integrity, transparency and compliance.
“GW’s next General Counsel will build on the strong foundation built by Charles and the rest of the GW legal team by serving as a trusted strategic partner who brings legal rigor, sound judgment and a deep appreciation for our academic mission,” Granberg said.
