David McInally Named New Coe College President

By Meryn Fluker, Reporter

David McInally (right) shakes hands with Coe College student Alex Fangman after he was announced as the 15th President of Coe College in the Clark Alumni House at Coe College on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa. McInally, who currently serves as executive vice president and treasurer at Allegheny College, in Meadville, Pa., will take office on July 1, 2013. McInally succeeds James Phifer, who is retiring next year after serving 18 years as president of the college. (Jim Slosiarek,/The Gazette-KCRG)

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By Liz Blood

Story Created: Oct 19, 2012 at 4:41 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 19, 2012 at 5:51 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - On July, 1 2013, David McInally will become Coe College's 15th president.

Gene Henderson, chairman of the school's Presidential Search Committee, announced the appointment at an all-campus meeting Friday afternoon at the Clark Alumni House to a standing-room only audience of more than 100 guests.

McInally will succeed current President James Phifer, who has led Coe since 1995 and last year announced his plan to retire. Friday's crowd marked the news with a standing ovation, an act they repeated once McInally completed his short speech.

The college's Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Friday morning to approve McInally, who is currently the executive vice president and treasurer at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., capping off what Henderson called a "very solid" nearly yearlong search to replace Phifer. The applicant pool included approximately 100 individuals from 34 states, Washington D.C. and Canada.

"(McInally) had the broadest and deepest experience, the kind of experience we're looking for to guide us into the next years at Coe," Henderson said.

McInally has also served as the assistant dean of students, dean of students, secretary of the college and vice president for finance and planning at Allegheny College, his employer since 1986. His wife, Janice, is director of donor relations and their children, Will and Susannah, both attend the college.

"There were probably only a few schools that could take me away from Allegheny," McInally said. "Coe is such a powerful magnet for me ... Coe is exactly where I want to be."

He named the student-centered atmosphere and focus on academic excellence as two factors drawing him to the position.

Trustees and members of the search committee were very quick to praise outgoing President Phifer for his leadership successes, which include increasing the college's enrollment. When he retires in June 2013, Phifer will close out a 28-year career with the college.

"Dr. Phifer and his staff have been extremely successful," said Dave Carson, a member of Coe College's Board of Trustees and a member of the school's Presidential Search Committee.

Even though Coe recently celebrated raising $90 million during its fundraising campaign, both McInally and Henderson noted the struggles higher education will face in the future.

"Liberal arts education is under attack. The economic model is under attack," Henderson said. "Decisions will have to be made for how to invest our resources ... We feel David McInally has the vision and experience to lead us."

Though McInally is looking forward to building on Phifer's success, one of the new president's main goals is to raise the school's profile.

"There are probably a lot of high school students who would do well at Coe," he said. "We just need to make sure they know about it."

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