To the Bowdoin community,

I write with mixed emotions to let you know that Katy Longley, our senior vice president for finance and administration and treasurer, will be leaving the College at the end of June for a new opportunity as vice president and chief financial officer at the Jackson Laboratory.

Headquartered in Bar Harbor with additional campuses in Connecticut and California, Jackson Laboratory is a remarkable and expanding enterprise dedicated to improving human health through genetic and genomic research. As CFO, Katy will play a key role in developing financial strategies, plans, and budgets for the organization. She will interact regularly with federal, state, and local regulatory and administrative agencies, and will work closely with Jackson’s other leaders to shape key strategic initiatives. In my view, Jackson Labs could not have picked a better  person for this pivotal role.

I talk a lot about Bowdoin’s enviable position among liberal arts colleges—about the strength of our faculty and academic program, our remarkable students and steadfast alumni, and also the extraordinary financial footing and administrative professionalism we enjoy here. Of course, there are many people dedicated to Bowdoin who have a hand in this success but, among them, Katy stands out as a gifted leader who has an uncommon dedication to her position and to her alma mater.

Katy has guided our budgets, debt financing, and financial planning, overseen numerous building and capital projects, and managed the ongoing work on our campus master plan. She has supervised critical areas like campus safety and emergency response, championed sustainability initiatives, and advanced our vibrant town-gown relations. And she has led a staff of over 300 dedicated people in finance, facilities management, human resources, dining services, security, events and summer programs, and the children’s center—Bowdoin people instrumental in making our College so exceptional.

For fourteen years, Katy has also been a valued financial and policy advisor to the Board and to two presidents. And Katy has been a terrific partner for me during this past year. Like many of you, I value greatly her counsel, her wisdom, and her friendship.

So, while I am sorry to see Katy go, I respect her decision to try her hand at something new because I know well the rewards that come with change. In the coming months, we will conduct a national search to identify Katy’s successor. In the meantime, all of us at Bowdoin can be confident that the staff we have in place in Katy’s area will continue to work diligently on behalf of the College. These are dedicated professionals, and I know we are all in very good hands.

There will be time between now and Katy’s departure to organize a proper farewell. For now, we are glad she will remain among us in Maine and that, as a loyal alumna, she will stay closely connected to the College. I know you join me in wishing Katy the very best and in thanking her for fourteen years of exemplary service to Bowdoin.

Sincerely,

Clayton