AGB Search Assists Gonzaga University in Finding CHRO

September 12, 2022 – A number of universities have recently turned to search firms to find new chief human resources officers. Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, recently placed Ray Kliewer as Gonzaga University’s inaugural vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer. Executive search consultants Alan Crist and Jean Kim led the assignment.

“I would like to thank the members of the VP human resources search committee, who worked diligently through the past several months to evaluate and interview numerous semi-finalists, as well as all those who participated in the on-campus interviews and provided feedback to the committee earlier this summer,” said Thayne M. McCulloh, president of Gonzaga University. “I would also like to thank Dr. Michelle Wheatley, VP for mission integration, for her leadership in the search.”

Mr. Kliewer previously served as senior director of human resources for the School of Medicine at Indiana University. A native of Louisville, KY, he earned both bachelor’s degree in business administration and master of education in human resources development degrees from the University of Louisville. He also holds a number of professional certificates in areas such as employee benefits law, and executive coaching and leadership training. Mr. Kliewer has over 25 years of experience in increasingly responsible human resources management positions, both in industry and higher education. His passion focuses on the implementation of initiatives that build HR competencies, relationships, and outcomes across the organizations of which he is a part.

In his new position, Mr. Kliewer will oversee a department of more than 22 people, including the areas of benefits and wellness, client services, HR data and systems, and organizational development, with an operating budget of $35.9 million, of which $34 million represents the central university benefits budget.

Gonzaga University is a private Jesuit university. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Founded in 1887 by Joseph Cataldo, an Italian-born priest and Jesuit missionary, the university is named for the young Jesuit saint Aloysius Gonzaga. The university grants bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees through its college and six schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Education, School of Engineering & Applied Science, School of Law, School of Nursing & Human Physiology, and the School of Leadership Studies.

Serving Universities

AGB Search conducts searches for college and university presidents, chancellors, provosts, vice presidents, deans, university system heads, and CEOs of coordinating boards and related foundations. The firm was founded by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) in 2010.


Cultivating the Higher Education Leadership Pipeline 

In this brand new episode of ‘Talent Talks,’ Hunt Scanlon Media host Rob Adams is joined by Rod McDavis, managing principal of AGB Search and Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor Emerita of the State University of New York system. In this podcast, Dr. McDavis and Dr. Zimpher share recent trends in higher education leadership including diversity and how AGB’s Institute for Leadership & Governance is changing the game. Listen now! 


Dr. Crist is director and senior consultant for the AGB Search/CUPA-HR Compensation Evaluation Service (CES), a partnership of AGB Search and the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. The organization provides benchmarking of executive compensation. Dr. Crist joined AGB Search in 2015. He also serves as senior associate vice president emeritus of the University of Wisconsin System.

Dr. Kim joined AGB Search in 2017 following a 37-year career in higher education administration, specifically in student affairs and enrollment management, in both private and public universities. Dr. Kim has served as the vice president, vice chancellor, and vice provost at two private institutions—University of Hartford and University of Puget Sound—and five public institutions—University of Colorado Boulder, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Idaho, and SUNY Purchase College. She also worked as assistant dean and director at Stanford University and Western New England College. Having served as a senior leader and member of executive cabinets at both private and public universities, Dr. Kim has extensive experience in leadership search processes as the hiring officer, chairing search committees as well as participating in presidential and other cabinet member searches.

Related: AGB Search Selected by University of North Dakota to Find Provost

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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