Academic Search Retained by William Penn University to Find Next President
October 14, 2026 – Education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has been retained by William Penn University (WPU) to lead in its search for a new president. The search is being led by senior consultant and Dan DiBiasio and consultant Andrea Cowsert. President John Ottosson will retire in June 2027 after more than a decade of leadership, leaving William Penn poised for further growth and advancement.
This is a significant moment for this values-driven institution with plans for enrollment growth, recent investments in campus infrastructure, and a cleareyed recognition that the road ahead will require bold, disciplined leadership. The board of trustees seeks an innovative, collaborative leader who will steward the University’s strongly held Quaker heritage of access and inclusion while making the strategic choices necessary to guide future success.
The William Penn community seeks a president who can demonstrate a deep respect for what William Penn already does well — sustaining its family atmosphere, valuing its Quaker heritage, and maintaining a record of opening doors for students who might not otherwise have them opened — and possesses the honesty, business discipline, and fundraising drive needed to secure the institution’s future. William Penn desires a leader who will invest in, build, and grow with the community.
The next president of William Penn will be a confident collaborator and dynamic leader who brings a deep commitment to integrating the liberal arts with career-focused programs and a broad understanding of the role of higher education in an increasingly competitive landscape.
William Penn University is a private university in Oskaloosa, IA. Founded in 1873 by Quaker settlers, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs across areas including business, education, health sciences, technology, the arts and humanities, and social sciences. William Penn’s academic mission emphasizes leadership, technology, and the Quaker principles of simplicity, peace-making, integrity, community, and equality, while welcoming students and faculty from a range of backgrounds and faith traditions.
For over three decades, Academic Search has been a leader in designing and implementing search processes for leaders of colleges and universities across the country. The firm has completed hundreds of executive searches for higher education institutions and related organizations, for roles ranging from presidents to provosts to deans. Academic Search has a formal relationship to a premier leadership development program. As the subsidiary of the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), the firm provides substantial financial support to a number of leadership identification, development, and support programs across all sectors of public and private higher education. The firm is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Dr. DiBiasio has over 40 years of experience in higher education. He most recently served as the 11th president of Ohio Northern University from 2011–2022. Prior to that appointment, Dr. DiBiasio served as president of Wilmington College for 16 years from 1995–2011.
Related: Academic Search Seeking New President for the University of Southern Indiana
Ms. Cowsert, who also serves assistant director of communications, has been engaged in more than 80 searches for a variety of both public and private institutions. The searches for which she has assisted have included chief executive officers, provosts and the full range of cabinet-level vice presidents, and deans of major academic units. Ms. Cowsert previously worked for the American Council on Education, USAID, U.S. Department of State, and the White House.
University of Alabama Search
Academic Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Peter J. Mohler as the 30th president of the University of Alabama. Stuart R. Bell, the 29th president of the University of Alabama, stepped down from the presidency mid-summer, completing a decade in the school’s top leadership role. Academic Search has partnered with UA on several successful searches, including the hiring of former president Robert E. Witt and the hiring of current president Dr. Bell.
“Dr. Mohler is uniquely equipped to build upon the University of Alabama’s strong foundation and lead this institution into an even brighter future,” said UA System chancellor Sid J. Trant, who recommended Mohler’s appointment to the board. “He is a champion for the power of public higher education to transform lives and communities through teaching, research and service, and he will advance our flagship mission through his bold, student-centered and visionary leadership.”
A distinguished leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Mohler previously served as executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge at Ohio State University and chief scientific officer of OSU’s Wexner Medical Center.
Related: Academic Search Assists the University of Nebraska in Recruiting New President
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
