Academic Search Seeking New President for the University of Alabama
March 13, 2025 – Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has been retained by the University of Alabama (UA) to lead in its search for a new president. Stuart R. Bell, the 29th president of the University of Alabama, has announced his plans to step down from the presidency mid-summer, completing a decade in the school’s top leadership role. Senior consultant Ann Die Hasselmo, consultant Christopher Butler, and associate consultant Kate Cusimano are leading the assignment. Academic Search have partnered with UA on several successful searches, including the hiring of former president Robert E. Witt and the hiring of current president Dr. Bell.
“With over four decades of experience in higher education recruitment and more than 2,600 successful searches completed, Academic Search is renowned for its expertise in identifying exceptional leaders,” the University of Alabama said.
“The University of Alabama is one of the nation’s preeminent flagship universities and provides premier and dynamic educational experiences that equip all students for success on campus and beyond, making the university uniquely positioned to attract an exceptional leader who will further its legacy of excellence,” said UA System board of trustees president Pro Tempore Scott Phelps. “As we embark on this important search, I want to express my gratitude to the presidential search advisory committee for their dedication and willingness to serve.”
The UA presidential search advisory committee members represent UA faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members, as well as the board of trustees and UA System leadership. Karen P. Brooks – a Tuscaloosa native and member of the board of trustees – will serve as chair. All members of the UA community will be invited to share feedback and comments on characteristics, qualifications and credentials they believe are essential for the next president, and interested parties can stay informed about the progress of the search by visiting the UA presidential search website.
The successful candidate will have the distinct opportunity to lead a thriving institution that has earned global distinction for rapid and sustained enrollment growth, ever-increasing academic excellence, a growing research enterprise, and state-of-the-art physical facilities.
The committee is seeking a candidate with a distinguished record of leadership at the presidential or senior executive level at an R1 institution or an equivalent record outside the academy with a demonstrated understanding of the nation’s higher education milieu. Those applying should have an impeccable character, mature judgment, and personal and professional integrity. They will have a respect for the traditions and culture of the University, while embracing innovation to lead the university to unprecedented achievements.
Candidates must have the ability to develop a vision for the next decade of the University through coordination with and input from faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, donors, Trustees, the community, and other constituencies. They will have a willingness to actively engage in the recruitment of students from a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, academic accomplishments, and career interests. In addition, they will have the ability to grow and sustain exemplary academic and research achievements and maintain forward progress through an energetic and transformational leadership style and a talent for setting forth a clear vision through plans that are ambitious, inspiring, and sustainable.
Related: Academic Search Seeking New President for the University of Southern Indiana
The University of Alabama, part of the University of Alabama System, is located in the city of Tuscaloosa and is one of the nation’s premier public universities, offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 200 fields of study. The school has more than 40,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, attracting more than half of its students from out of state. US employs more than 2,100 faculty and was recognized in 2024 by Forbes magazine as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers and Best Employers for New Graduates.
Serving Colleges and Universities
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. Hasselmo is president emerita of the AALI and of Hendrix College. Prior to becoming the founding president of AALI, she was managing director of Academic Search Consultation Service. Her earlier career in higher education administration spanned positions from faculty leadership to the presidency. Dr. Hasselmo’s experience includes work at both public and private colleges and universities. She has also held a variety of chairs and presidencies of national higher education boards and associations.
Mr. Butler is responsible for assisting the lead consultants with research functions, preparing written documents for searches, recruiting and evaluation of applicants, and providing assistance to the lead consultants during committee meetings and neutral site interviews. He came to Academic Search from Apex CoVantage, a business solutions firm, in which he worked in the editorial division and supervised prepress work on academic monographs and textbooks.
Ms. Cusimano joined Academic Search in 2019. She has been involved in a variety of searches for both public and private institutions, inclusive of those with Carnegie R1 and R2 research classifications. These searches have included presidencies, provosts, and other cabinet-level vice presidencies, and deans of academic units.
Related: Academic Search Recruits President for Norwich University
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
