PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Chief Public Affairs Officer at Washtenaw Community College

(September 4, 2025, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Dr. Amanda Holdsworth, securing the role as Chief Public Affairs Officer at Washtenaw Community College.

Dr. Amanda Holdsworth was recently Senior Director of External Communications at Risepoint, an education technology company providing services for colleges and universities. Dr. Holdsworth obtained a Bachelor’s in Communications Management from Robert Morris University, a Master’s in Strategic Public Relations and an Ed.D. of Organizational Change & Leadership from the University of Southern California. She founded the award-winning consulting practice, Cultivate & Engage, and served as Executive Director of the Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education, guiding state and federal advocacy. Dr. Holdsworth has also served as Director of Communications and Marketing for Oakland School District, University of Michigan and Cleary University. In this position, Dr. Holdsworth will be responsible for positioning the President/College as an educational leader and shaping public engagement, communications and the institution’s overall brand and reputation.

Washtenaw Community College, established in 1965, has grown into one of the nation’s premier community colleges with an annual enrollment of more than 18,000 students in credit classes each year, and thousands more in Economic and College Development classes. The diverse student body includes more than 1,000 students from 100+ foreign countries. The 285-acre campus and strategically located extension centers, operating resources, technology-enabled facilities, and instructional quality are the envy of post-secondary education institutions near and far.

Affordable Excellence

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability. Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.