Academic Career & Executive Search Recruits CFO for the Cleveland Institute of Art
December 8, 2025 – Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has assisted in the recruitment of Melanie Walker as vice president of business affairs and chief financial officer of the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). Jennifer Muller, managing partner, led the search. “We’re thrilled to welcome Melanie as CIA’s next vice president of business affairs and CFO,” said president and CEO Kathryn Heidemann. “She brings exceptional financial acumen and a thoughtful, transparent approach to leadership. Melanie’s ability to balance strong fiscal stewardship with a deep respect for our mission and values will serve CIA well as we continue to navigate the increasing complexities of higher education and build a resilient, vibrant future for the college.”
Ms. Walker specializes in organizational performance improvement, financial reporting and strategy. She brings to CIA a thorough knowledge of all aspects of financial planning and budgeting as well as expertise in human resource allocation. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and commitment to support mission-driven work.
Ms. Walker most recently served as associate dean of finance and administration at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law, where she served as the law school’s chief business officer on the executive leadership team and created fiscal policies and procedures to enhance internal controls. Prior to that, she served as director of physician finance at HealthSpan Integrated Care, an integrated payer/provider health care organization; as director of finance and corporate controller for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio, a multi-specialty physician practice; and as senior financial analyst/account supervisor at University Hospitals.
Ms. Walker’s role at CIA will begin December 10. She will play a vital role in shaping the college’s long-term financial resilience, guiding operating and capital budgets, supporting the school’s business model transformation and strategic planning initiatives, and leading her team of direct reports in the offices of business affairs, human resources, and facilities management + safety.
“I am truly excited to join the Cleveland Institute of Art,” said Ms. Walker. “I look forward to partnering with our stakeholders to strengthen financial transparency, support creative excellence and contribute to the continued success and vibrancy of this extraordinary institution.”
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a nationally recognized college of art and design committed to nurturing creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence. Founded in 1882, CIA offers a rigorous studio-based education in 13 majors, including illustration, animation, industrial design, game design, painting, sculpture + expanded media, and more.
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 resources officer, and faculty members across all types and sizes of institutions.
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.
Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services Search
ACES recently placed Shaun McAlmont as CEO of CHESS (Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services). He succeeds 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.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
