AGB Search Seeks CHRO for Gonzaga University
February 25, 2022 – A number of universities have turned to search firms to find new chief human resource officers. Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, was recently called in by Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, to lead its search for a new CHRO. Executive search consultants Alan Crist and Jean Kim are leading the assignment. The search firm seeks a dynamic and creative human resources strategist to serve as a strategic partner in realizing Gonzaga’s aspiration to be the first in class in all administrative areas as a national, Catholic, Jesuit, humanistic university. The new CHRO 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.
The incoming leader will value diversity, equity and inclusion, and builds a culture of respect and engagement as well as promote effective employee services, initiatives, and programs that nurture an inclusive and equitable learning and working environment. Ideal candidates will have a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in human resources administration. They should also have 10 years of related supervisory/ management experience. Candidates should also have excellent strategic planning and operational management skills with the ability to translate vision and strategy into clear, actionable goals. The ability to appropriately scale functional areas of HR to achieve strategic goals of the organization and adapt talent to the pace of technological advances is also desired. In addition, Gonzaga wants candidates with core and substantive knowledge of all human resource functional and technical areas, including use of enterprise-wide technology platforms as tools for implementing strategic processes and priorities.
AGB Search was also recently called in by Gonzaga to lead its search for a new provost. The firm is looking for an experienced senior academic administrator who demonstrates an unqualified commitment to foster, promote, enhance, and maintain the Jesuit, Catholic and humanistic identity of the university as expressed in its mission, vision, and strategic plan. Kim Bobby and Garry Owen are leading the assignment for AGB Search.
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 University at Albany. 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, and 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
