Academic Career & Executive Search Opens to Serve Higher Education Sector

October 4, 2017 – Veteran executive recruiter Jennifer Muller has launched Academic Career and Executive Search (ACES), 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 more 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.”
“Articulating their value is also a problem for candidates,” she said. “Too often talented people are overlooked because their applications don’t adequately showcase their suitability and qualifications. This is frustrating for both the hiring institution as well as for candidates. Our novel support services help candidates better articulate their value to institutions. To address this, we’ve added instructional webinars, coaching and CV/cover letter review.”
Higher Education Search Leader
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.
ACES’ executive search consultants include former district vice chancellors, presidents, provosts, student affairs leaders, deans, CHROs, leadership in healthcare and Fortune 500 companies spanning public, private, two and four-year institutions.
Its roster includes Dr. Allen Meadors, who has extensive domestic and international experience in higher education and health care administration. He served as president of the University of Central Arkansas, chancellor at both the University of North Carolina – Pembroke and Penn State Altoona, and as president of St. John International University in Italy.
Also joining Ms. Muller is Jack Giarusso, Dr. George Swan and Dr. Gilbert Rochon.
Mr. Giarusso has over 35 years of experience as the chief human resources officer for the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Fitchburg State University, Quinsigamond Community College, and the Worcester Community Action Council. Dr. Swan has more than 36 years of experience as a leader in higher education with more than a decade assisting institutions in the higher learning commission region as a peer reviewer. He served for 29 years at the Wayne County Community College District in multiple roles as a district vice chancellor. Dr. Rochon’s over 30 years in academia include: president and professor at Tuskegee University, AVP for collaborative research at Purdue University, and Conrad Hilton Endowed Professorship & director- Urban Studies and Public Policy Institute at Dillard University.
Open for Business
In recent months, a slew of new recruiting firms have opened around the world in not only the real estate sector but a wide variety of industries, a nod to busy days in the search industry. Here’s a look at just a recent sampling from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
A new executive recruitment firm, Hanning Recruitment, has been launched in the U.K. It is headed by Toby Speke and backed by Rory Penn and Thomas van Straubenzee of the London agency VanHan. Mr. Speke previously worked for VanHan as well as global real estate firm Knight Frank.
Anuj Dhawan, former director and partner at Positive Moves Consulting, an angel investor in a Seattle-based healthcare IoT business, has founded executive search firm Cognitive Talent Partners LLP. Based in Gurgaon, Haryana, India, the firm provides executive search services to private equity funds, banks, consumer lending clients and global technology corporations.
Veteran Edward Batchelor has launched executive search firm Hardman Batchelor International, LLC. Based in Austin, TX, the firm specializes in recruiting and assessing leading board directors, CEOs and C-level executives with a particular focus on cultivating the Austin market.
The U.K. office of global search firm Boyden has launched a new executive search and interim management business called Savannah Group. Savannah’s team of 50 includes 20 partners that are specialists in their fields, including board and corporate functions, financial services, hospitality travel & leisure, industrial, digital and media, sport & entertainment industries.
Search industry veterans Ian Macleod and Paul Atkinson have joined forces to form Atkinson Macleod Executive Search. The firm focuses on board and senior executive level searches for the private and public sectors. Mr. Macleod spent 16 years running the Scottish arm of Odgers Berndtson after serving for 10 years with the Norman Broadbent.
upLIFT HR has been launched in New York by veteran human resources executive Talia Salvati. The firm was created to partner with small and large scale companies holistically to create, structure and recruit its HR teams. It works with purpose-driven companies to find dynamic and nimble HR leaders who can drive their company’s vision and mission.
Wakerobin Partners has been launched in The Woodlands, TX, by Rick Lowry. As a boutique firm, Wakerobin specializes in recruiting corporate and regional leadership throughout the U.S., working in a myriad of industries and disciplines. Mr. Lowry has more than 15 years in the search industry, as well as many years in leadership positions in public and private companies.
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