The Chatfield College Board of Trustees has elected Robert P. Elmore as the next president of Chatfield College. Mr. Elmore, who has served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Chatfield College since 2014, becomes the sixth President in the college’s 48-year history.

“We are extremely excited to have Robert Elmore leading us in the coming years. We were very pleased to have a number of very talented candidates to consider for the position, but Robert was the clear choice. His leadership skills and enthusiasm will serve Chatfield well,” said William Montague, Chair of Chatfield’s Board of Trustees.

The process of selecting the new president began in August, when President John P. Tafaro announced his retirement effective December 31, 2020. The Presidential Search Committee, led by Gilman Partners and comprised of twelve members including trustees, faculty, staff, and members of the community, narrowed the list from over 115 initial applicants to six semifinalists who were interviewed by the committee in early October. In a final series of interviews with three very qualified finalists, Mr. Elmore emerged as clearly the best candidate to lead Chatfield both now and in the future.

According to Search Committee Chair and Board Vice Chair Victoria Parlin, “We undertook a national search to ensure that the next President of Chatfield would be positioned to lead the college in an era of change and challenges. We believe that we found the right person in Bob Elmore who has the experience, the vision, and the commitment to the mission of Chatfield which will make his tenure as president a transformative moment in the history of the college.”

As Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Elmore led the institution through major capital improvements including the historic renovation of the Over-the-Rhine campus, and more recently, the renovation of the Welcome Center at the St. Martin campus. Elmore also oversaw transformational improvement in the information technology capabilities of the institution that enabled the introduction of online learning and digital content delivery in the classroom, including an upgraded student information system.

“I am delighted and honored to be selected as the next president of Chatfield College and build on the success and legacy of the Ursulines of Brown County. I want to thank the search committee for their work and the Board of Trustees for their support as we work together to create more educational opportunities for people in the communities we serve,” Mr. Elmore said upon his being named the new president.

John Tafaro, Elmore’s predecessor said, “The Chatfield Board of Trustees has made an outstanding decision with its selection of Robert Elmore as the college’s sixth president. Bob’s skills, experience, and appreciation for Chatfield’s students and unique mission make him the perfect choice to lead this important Catholic institution of higher learning for the years to come.”
Mr. Elmore is a graduate of the University of Louisville and a Certified Public Accountant. He assumed his new role effective January 23, 2020. Elmore has 35 years of higher education experience and has held numerous leadership roles at various institutions and non-profit boards.

Chatfield College is a private, faith-based, liberal arts college offering the Associate of Arts degree in Brown County and Cincinnati and is an open enrollment college. The Brown County campus is located at 20918 State Route 251; St. Martin, OH 45118; the Cincinnati campus is located in historic Over-the- Rhine at 1544 Central Parkway; Cincinnati, OH 45202. For more information, visit the website, at www.chatfield.edu, call (513) 875-3344 or e-mail [email protected].