Kalmbach '68 named senior vice president

Charles Kalmbach '68 was named the University senior vice president for administration Saturday. He will take office on June 1.

Kalmbach's appointment was approved by the University Board of Trustees during its weekend meeting. He was suggested for the position by President Tilghman several months ago.

Kalmbach's primary responsibilities will be managing and organizing the University's administrative affairs. He will also oversee all matters pertaining to the University's non-academic staffs, such as career development and recruitment.

"He brings long experience in management consulting," Tilghman said. "He has great depth of experience in large organizations, finding ways to introduce modern management to allow the organization to run most efficiently."

Kalmbach has extensive experience in the corporate world and will bring a great deal of new resources to apply to the University's challenges, Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62 said.

Kalmbach is deeply devoted to the University, having spent his undergraduate and graduate years here, Wright added.

"I'm really excited about what he can do for us," he said.

Kalmbach said he is eager to work with the senior leadership Tilghman has chosen.

"I'm delighted to have the chance to be a part of that group," he said.

Kalmbach has maintained relations with the University as an advisory council member for the School of Engineering and Applied Science, helping the school plan for the future.

Dean of the engineering school James Wei described Kalmbach as someone who is "very good at working with people, listening to their hopes with sensitivity to their problems, creative with new ideas for getting around obstacles and constructive in channeling consensus toward a workable plan."

In addition, Kalmbach has served as class and Reunions chair and an agent for Annual Giving.

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"He brings 30 years of loyal alumni experience [to the job]," Tilghman said. "He knows the institution well."

In 1968, Kalmbach graduated magna cum laude in the aerospace and mechanical sciences department, now mechanical and aerospace engineering. He continued his graduates studies in the same department and received his Ph.D. in 1972.

After receiving a law degree in 1975 from the University of Pennsylvania, Kalmbach taught as an assistant professor for a year at the Wharton School.

Kalmbach has spent the last two decades in senior management positions at various companies. Since 1996, he has worked at Accenture, once known as Andersen Consulting, as global managing partner for its organization strategy.

Two of Kalmbach's children have attended the University. Abigail Kalmbach '00 majored in electrical engineering and is now teaching for Princeton-in-Asia in Thailand, and Nicholas Kalmbach '04 is planning to major in operations research and financial engineering.

His son Ted Kalmbach is a graduate of Boston College and a Fulbright Scholar preparing to enter law school. His youngest son, Andrew Kalmbach, is just completing ninth grade.

Yesterday was Kalmbach's first time visiting campus since receiving the news of his appointment. He spent most of the time "listening and learning . . . hoping to get a rolling start," he said.