Board of Trustees Walla Walla University Dear Board Member:

July 5, 2012

We, the undersigned ask the Walla Walla University Board of Trustees to reconsider Alex Bryan for president. While the Committees first choice did not work out, we believe that Alex Bryan is [the] best person for the following reasons: 1. Dr. Bryan has a vision for the future of Adventist Christian education. He is able to articulate that vision to attract highly qualified persons and draw the faculty, staff, students and alumni together to fulfill WWUs and our churchs mission. This is especially needed now on our campus because of the currently unfilled positions. 2. Dr. Bryan may have little higher education experience, either administrative or teaching, but he gets the academic process. He has already been closely watching the administrative process as an invitee and active participant in the WWU Cabinet. He is a bright leader and will quickly master the job of presidency. We believe it is much more effective to hire someone who has the talents, characteristics and integrity needed for the job than to hire someone who has experience but lacks visionary, creative, energetic leadership skills. 3. Dr. Bryan connects with the students. His student week of prayer last fall was one of the most outstanding we have ever witnessed. The church was full for every meeting. Dr. Bryan had a message and was able to communicate in a profound way to engage students, staff and faculty. 4. Dr. Bryan also has a vision and understanding of what needs to be done to put WWU on a firmer financial footing. We believe that he, with the WWU Board, will hire a strong Vice President for Development. This is our lifeblood for the future. We need tens of millions in endowment money now and much more in the future. This will strengthen WWU and make it more affordable for our young people. If we use an interim president, we essentially delay for at least a year, and maybe more, all major fundraising efforts. This will cost WWU millions of dollars. 5. Dr. Bryan has creativity. For many of us, he is our current pastor and we have watched as he has surrounded himself with a capable and energetic staff. They all can preach. They all are eager to help us grow in Christ. This tells us he understands the importance of surrounding himself with outstanding coworkers. We want that for WWU! 6. We are concerned that the WWU Boards rejection of a thoroughly vetted and qualified candidate has signaled to anonymous groups that the board trusts them more than the boards own search committee. Trust your search committees collective wisdom to call Alex Bryan to lead us into the twenty-first century in a way that will make WWU the leader in Adventist Christian education. Thank you for reconsidering your decision. Yours in Christ, Walla Walla University faculty and staff