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Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) selected by Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) for Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment Search

(February 11, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search.

The Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment (AVPIRA) will drive institutional decision-making, continuous improvement, and student success at the nation’s only independent public college of art and design. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the AVPIRA role works in close partnership with senior leadership across the College to translate data into insight and action with measurable impact. The institution builds on strong momentum following a successful accreditation review cycle, the completion of a refreshed Strategic Partnership Plan, and stable, committed senior leadership in place. In addition to influencing decision-making on campus, the AVPIRA will engage with external partners and professional networks, strengthening MassArt’s connections, benchmarking practices, and influence across the sector. The successful candidate will be a nimble and collaborative leader with deep expertise in institutional research, assessment, analytics, and accreditation. Working closely with academic and administrative partners across campus, the AVPIRA will lead efforts to align data collection, analysis, and reporting with institutional priorities, state and federal requirements, and ongoing strategic initiatives. Of particular importance is the ability to translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into compelling narratives and visualizations that resonate with varied audiences, including faculty, staff, senior leadership, and the Board, to support continuous improvement across the institution.

Founded in 1873, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), is the nation’s first and only independent, free-standing public college of art and design. MassArt is an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, makers, educators, innovators, and leaders striving to shape the future through art and design. Located in Boston’s hub of arts and culture along the Avenue of the Arts, MassArt enrolls 2,000 students and offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in 18 disciplines, as well as continuing education and youth programs. MassArt is a diverse and inclusive campus community that prepares artists, designers, and educators from diverse backgrounds to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. The College offers twenty-two areas of concentration in fine arts, design and art education, and awards one undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, and graduate degrees including the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Art in Teaching, Master of Education, Master of Design Innovation, and the Master of Architecture. The college also offers certificate programs in Communication Design, Fashion Design, Furniture Design, and Industrial Design.

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/.