Academic Career & Executive Search Recruits CEO for CHESS (Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services)
June 2, 2025 – Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has placed Shaun McAlmont as CEO of CHESS (Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services). He will succeed founding CEO Kathy Ulibarri, who will retire after guiding CHESS from its formation in 2021 to its emergence as a national model for shared services in higher education. Jennifer Muller, managing partner, led the search. CHESS board chair and president of Santa Fe Community College, Dr. Becky Rowley, praised Ms. Ulibarri’s tenure and welcomed Dr. McAlmont to the role. “Kathy Ulibarri led CHESS from concept to implementation with deep commitment, foresight, and skill,” she said. “She established a culture of trust, equity, and innovation that sets the stage for our next chapter. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. McAlmont, whose experience and passion for student success will strengthen and expand CHESS’s impact across New Mexico and beyond.”
“From day one, our mission was to prove that higher education institutions could work together in bold new ways to improve the student experience,” said Ms. Ulibarri. “I’m proud of the culture we’ve built, the systems we’ve launched, and most of all, the collaborative spirit that drives our member colleges. I’m confident that Dr. McAlmont’s will take CHESS to the next level.”
Dr. McAlmont brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in education and workforce development, including serving as CEO of NINJIO, president of Career Learning at Stride, Inc., and CEO of Lincoln Educational Services. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s higher education management doctoral program, and a recognized innovator in adult learning, career readiness, and education technology. Dr. McAlmont has consistently led organizations through transformative growth and strategic realignment throughout his career.
“It’s an honor to join CHESS at such a pivotal moment,” Dr. McAlmont said. “I’m deeply grateful to the Board for their trust, and to Kathy Ulibarri for her visionary leadership in launching this bold initiative. CHESS is redefining how higher education institutions can work together to serve students, and I look forward to building on that foundation in New Mexico and exploring how this model can influence the future of education nationally.”
The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) is a nonprofit organization that empowers its member colleges to improve student success by collaboratively implementing and managing shared systems and services. CHESS currently includes Clovis Community College, Central New Mexico Community College, Luna Community College, Northern New Mexico College, San Juan College, and Santa Fe Community College.
Based in West Hartford, CT, Academic Career & Executive Search focuses on executive search services, career planning, and candidate coaching. Specializing in challenging faculty to senior administrative positions, the firm offers six a la carte services spanning full search, candidate generation, interim, multi-hire, and contingency search. Candidate support services include webinars, career planning, and candidate coaching. Its team has served in virtually every capacity in higher education including president, vice president, provost, dean, chief human research officer, and faculty members across all types and sizes of institutions.
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Ms. Muller has more than 20 years of research and development experience in higher education and Fortune 500 companies. She has led over 70 higher education searches both domestically and internationally spanning presidents, vice presidents, associate chancellors, deans, directors, chairs, and faculty level positions. Ms. Muller is former vice chair of the American Council on Education (ACE) Executive Search Roundtable and serves as an advisor in the numerous ACE leadership development forums.
Washtenaw Community College Search
Academic Career & Executive Search was recently tapped by Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, MI, to recruit the next chief external affairs officer. Reporting directly to the president, this position is responsible for the college’s overall strategy relating to government relations, brand awareness, public relations, reputation, marketing and communications. The chief external affairs officer leads the college’s comprehensive strategy for engaging with local, state, and federal government entities, as well as community-based organizations and civic leaders.
This position advances the college’s interests by fostering relationships with elected officials, governmental agencies, non-profit leaders, and key community stakeholders, advocating for policies, funding, and initiatives that support student success and community development.
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.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
