Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Adds Higher Education Veteran
February 8, 2018 – West Hartford, Conn-based Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has expanded with the addition of Charles J. Fey as an executive search consultant.
Dr. Fey retired after a noteworthy 44-year career in student affairs and student success. He held a number of positions including: president for student engagement and success at the University of Akron, VP for student affairs for the University of Maryland Baltimore County, dean of students at the University of Texas at El Paso, VP and dean of student life for Our Lady of the Lake University, dean of students at St. Mary’s University, associate dean of student affairs with Keene State College, director of housing/resident life at Catholic University of America and associate dean of students at Newbury College.
“Charlie’s enthusiasm for student affairs and success come across immediately upon your first conversation with him,” said Jennifer Muller, managing partner and lead consultant of ACES. “The depth of his experience and well-established networks make him a trusted expert when looking for the right candidate.”
Newly Launched Higher Education Specialists
Ms. Muller launched ACES last October as a higher education search firm focused on high precision, flexible executive search services, career planning and candidate coaching. “Over the years I’ve learned institutions need more flexible search services,” said Ms. Muller. “Our new model offers six unique levels. For even greater flexibility, we’ve added contingency search services ideal for certain types of positions like difficult to fill IT roles.”
The ACES model focuses on candidates for better fits and longevity, according to the firm. “By understanding a candidate’s academic and non-academic priorities, career goals and lifestyle preferences, the selected candidate is a more precise fit not just for the institution but the community, too,” Ms. Muller said. “This more comprehensive approach leads to high accuracy placement and longer-term stability.”
Ms. Muller has 20 years of experience in research and development for higher education and Fortune 500 companies. She has led higher education searches both domestically and internationally for presidents, vice presidents, associate chancellors, deans, directors, chairs and faculty-level positions. Previously, she built the executive search business for Academic Keys, a higher education source for faculty, senior administrators, researchers and adjuncts.
The firm’s search consultants include former district vice chancellors, presidents, provosts, student affairs leaders, deans, CHROs, leadership in healthcare and Fortune 500 companies spanning public, private and two- and four-year institutions.
Plucking Talent from Universities
The education sector has been hot for executive recruiters as of late. Today, some 150 recruiting specialist organizations serve only the academia sector. To meet demand, search firms have been bolstering their staffs with talent from the education sector.
Here are a few examples from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
Philip Tang has joined executive search firm Witt/Kieffer as a consultant in its education practice. He has nearly 15 years of university administration experience at one of the nation’s leading universities. Mr. Tang previously served as vice provost for academic services at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Isaacson, Miller named Ericka Miller as a vice president and partner in its Washington, D.C. office. An expert in K-12 education and education policy, Dr. Miller most recently served as chief of membership, governance, and higher education at The College Board. In 2013, she was nominated by President Barack Obama to be the assistant secretary for postsecondary education in the U.S. Department of Education.
Wheless Partners appointed Dr. Robert Witt, University of Alabama System chancellor emeritus, as a senior advisor to the firm’s higher education search practice. “Given the numerous challenges higher education faces today, leadership for public colleges and universities has never been more imperative,” said Mike Wheless, CEO of Wheless Partners.
Saxton Bampfylde added Dr. Jennifer Barnes to its consulting team where she works across the firm’s global higher education and arts & culture search practices. Dr. Barnes brings has a broad range of experience from higher education, business and the arts. Most recently, she was pro-vice chancellor and deputy vice chancellor at the University of Cambridge.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
