PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) selected by Briar Cliff University for Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Search

(July 24, 2025, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Briar Cliff University. Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search.

Alongside a dynamic new president, the next Provost/VPAA will have the opportunity to build boldly, innovate with confidence, and help shape the University’s next century of impact. This position serves as the chief academic officer and provides strategic leadership for both Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at Briar Cliff University. The ideal candidate brings a strong design-thinking mindset and experience leading academic transformation, a deep understanding of student affairs, and the capacity to engage faculty with both respect and resolve. They will need the judgment to navigate institutional culture, the conviction to make difficult decisions, and the strategic clarity to drive lasting change. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a mission-driven university’s future with a collaborative leadership team that values entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative problem-solving, and a community deeply committed to student success and institutional renewal.

Briar Cliff University, founded in 1930, is a welcoming academic community overlooking the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa. What began on a hill once covered in briar patches has grown into a vibrant campus that now serves nearly 1,000 students. Rooted in the Franciscan values of service, compassion, and inclusivity, Briar Cliff fosters both academic excellence and personal growth, offering a transformative experience for students and professionals alike. The University offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs, a range of graduate degrees, and several online completion pathways to meet students where they are in their educational journey. From health sciences and business to education, social work, and the liberal arts, Briar Cliff delivers a mission-driven education that shapes not just résumés but character.

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/.