Academic Search Seeking New President for the University of Southern Indiana
November 12, 2024 – Education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has been selected by the University of Southern Indiana to lead in its search for its fifth president. Jay Lemons, Stuart Dorsey, Jennifer Kooken, and Amy Bonsiero are leading the assignment. Ronald S. Rochon announced that he would be stepping down to become the president of California State University.
The president is the chief executive officer of the University of Southern Indiana and works in consultation with internal and external constituencies to provide leadership and direction for the university. The next president will be expected to build upon the accomplishments of their presidential predecessors, elevate the university’s reputation and visibility and implement a strategy for growth in enrollment, resources and influence. The highest priority for the next president is to establish the vision, strategy, organization and resources for enrollment growth.
The next president of University of Southern Indiana will have a graduate degree, with a preference for an earned terminal degree, and/or a successful track record of increasing responsibility and proven leadership experience that demonstrates the ability to manage a complex organization. Demonstrated capabilities should include leading and developing a team of high-performing individuals, financial and business acumen, excellent communication skills, success in meeting institutional/organizational outcomes in alignment with mission and outstanding interpersonal skills.
Academic Search also notes that candidates should have the ability to develop and effectively communicate an inspiring and motivating vision. The school is looking for an open, genuine and engaging person who develops and cultivates relationships on campus among students, faculty, staff, the board of trustees, and externally with alumni, donors, government officials and Evansville and statewide leaders. The university is seeking a data-informed decision maker with the ability to understand and articulate decisions, and balance competing priorities.
Established in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana is one of five state universities in Indiana conferring baccalaureate and higher degrees. The school offers more than 130 areas of study through online, hybrid, accelerated and traditional in-person modes of delivery to traditional students and adult learners. The University of Southern Indiana draws students from 88 Indiana counties, 47 states, and 48 countries.
Finding Higher Education Talent
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.
Related: Academic Search Places New Provost for New Mexico State University
Dr. Lemons has been president of Academic Search since 2017, after serving for 25 years as a college president in both public and private higher education. A recognized leader in the academy, he has been particularly devoted to supporting leadership talent by working with new college presidents on the faculty of the new presidents’ programs of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges and through the professional development programs for aspiring leaders of the American Academic Leadership Institute. Dr. Lemons was president of Susquehanna University from 2001 to 2017, and prior to that served as chancellor of the University of Virginia’s (UVA) College at Wise, UVA’s public liberal arts college in southwestern Virginia.
Academic Search Assists the University of Nebraska in Recruiting New President
Academic Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Jeffrey P. Gold as the ninth president of the University of Nebraska. Past president Ted Carter left the school last year to become the president of Ohio State University, a search that was led by Santa Barbara, CA-based Education Executives. Dr. Gold’s appointment concludes a national search launched last fall that engaged the university community and key stakeholders across the state, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members and leaders in agriculture, business and philanthropy. He was named the board’s priority candidate for president on March 20, after which he underwent a vetting period required by state law that included a dozen public events across Nebraska.
Dr. Dorsey was appointed president of Texas Lutheran University in 2011. Prior to that, he was associate professor of economics at West Virginia University; professor, department chair, and academic dean at Baker University; vice president for academic affairs at the University of Evansville; and president of the University of Redlands. Dr. Dorsey also served for three years as chief economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where he supported the work of the committee on fiscal policy, tax reform and trade.
Ms. Kooken, consultant, joined Academic Search from Merrimack College, where she served as director of business school initiatives. Prior to that, Ms. Kooken collaborated with academic administrators and clients to develop engaging professional development programs for the Graduate Management Admission Council. She began her career in higher education as assistant director of graduate admissions for Babson College.
Ms. Bonsiero joined Academic Search in 2021 and brings diverse experience in higher education. She has served in many roles including full-time faculty, institutional effectiveness coordinator, and executive assistant to the dean of academic affairs. Ms. Bonsiero has served on multiple committees including the faculty development committee, the quality enhancement plan committee, and the commencement committee, and also functioned as the department representative on nationwide curriculum meetings.
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
