Higher‑education governance experts are urging boards to fortify independence in presidential searches as outside political pressure intensifies. AGB advisors and legal commentators argue that preserving board autonomy is essential to protect institutional mission, academic freedom and the credibility of presidential appointments. The guidance outlines fiduciary responsibilities for trustees, warns against external interference in searches, and describes practical steps for boards to demonstrate process integrity. Authors stress that a compromised search erodes trust across faculty, alumni and donors and may handicap a new president from day one. Boards facing contested searches should document candidate‑evaluation criteria, broaden input from faculty and campus stakeholders, and publicly articulate commitments to shared governance to head off reputational risk.