Whether hiring a sitting president or one beginning a first presidency, the board of trustees should be keenly interested in ensuring that the new president's first months in office flow as smoothly as possible. Increasing attention has been paid in recent years to the idea of using a transition team to assist the new president. Using a transition team following a president's appointment can help the new leader become familiar with the campus and community's history, diverse members, student life, organizations, and culture. Although the formation of a presidential transition team is often recommended, very little guidance is available as to how it should be created, how it should operate, and what a successful process achieves. In this article, the authors discuss how to foster a collaborative transition process and describe their experience in establishing a presidential transition team. They also discuss the role of the board of trustees in ensuring that a successful presidential transition takes place.