Academic Search

About Us

For more than four decades, Academic Search has offered executive search services to higher education institutions, associations, and related organizations. Academic Search was founded by higher education leaders on the principle that we provide the most value to partner institutions by combining best practices with our deep knowledge and experience. Our mission today is to enhance institutional capacity by providing outstanding executive recruitment services, executive coaching, and transition support, in partnership with our parent organization, the American Academic Leadership Institute.

Academic Search’s accomplished consultants have intimate knowledge of what makes a successful executive leader due to a combined 1600 years of higher education experience, and are unmatched in access to and knowledge about both current and rising leaders in higher education. The consultants leverage their extensive networks to gain access to a wide and expansive group of highly qualified potential candidates and referrals forged from relationships they developed from having previously served in campus leadership roles across the country.

Our Services

EXECUTIVE SEARCH

We understand that hiring qualified and effective new team members is critical to the life of any institution. As a trusted search partner, Academic Search is dedicated to providing service that our partner institutions can rely on unequivocally to achieve their recruitment goals and to support their overarching missions. We pledge to serve our partners with robust advocacy for their institutions and complete attention to their needs, while providing expert, ethical advisement and assistance throughout every search.

EXECUTIVE COACHING

Academic Search has long been committed to enhancing presidential and executive effectiveness and capacity through executive coaching. Our Executive Coaching Practice is designed to make strong leaders stronger. Our coaches serve as trusted companions and guides, committed to helping the executives with whom we work accomplish their leadership and institutional goals. This partnership is an invaluable investment in institutional vitality and well-being as much as it is an investment in the executive.

TRANSITION AND ONBOARDING

The creation and execution of a well-structured transition and onboarding plan is imperative to a successful integration process. We work with newly appointed leaders and their institutions in assuring that all are equipped to succeed and to advance the institutions. Our collaborative process is built on the imperatives of culture, context, and relational capital and includes custom-designed workshops that quickly acclimate any new leader to key stakeholders and the campus and broader communities.

For more information, visit www.academicsearch.org.

ACHIEVEMENTS

RECENT PLACEMENTS

Academic Search

Find a Recruiter

57

Academic Search is mission driven: We are institution builders focused on partnering with colleges and universities to assemble the best teams possible. We understand that hiring qualified and effective new team members is critical to the life of any institution. As your trusted partner, Academic Search pledges to serve you with robust advocacy for your institution, enthusiasm for your mission, complete attention to your needs, and expert, ethical advisement, and assistance throughout the search process.

One of the hallmarks of Academic Search is our use of a team approach that involves one or more senior consultants as well as a consultant and/or associate consultant. The team we propose for a search will have direct, hands-on overall responsibility for all consulting services provided throughout the search. This is a characteristic that distinguishes us from others and reflects our mission-focused approach. Our accomplished consultants are seasoned and thoughtful leaders who have an intimate understanding of what makes a successful executive leader as well as vast professional networks.

Biographies for other members of our team can be found on the Academic Search website at www.academicsearch.org/our-team.

Academic Search

Solutions And Expertise

Solutions
  • Executive Coaching
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership Consulting
  • Leadership Develop.
  • Onboarding
Industries
  • Associations
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Education
  • Non-Profit
Functions
  • Board/Governance
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • General Management
  • Human Resources

Academic Search

News Briefings

Higher Education Leaders Join Academic Search’s Board

Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search recently elected Berenecea Johnson Eanes as chair, Kathy Wilson Humphrey as vice chair, as well as Damián J. Fernández and Cynthia Teniente-Matson as new board members. “As we usher in these esteemed new members, we also bid farewell to accomplished colleagues who have dedicated years of service to advancing higher education through their

HR Leaders and Diversity Chiefs Continue to Push for Inclusion

HR leaders and executive recruiters alike say that promoting diversity and belonging in the workplace is not just a buzzword. It’s a crucial aspect of modern businesses. Companies that foster diversity and belonging have been proven to have better financial performance, increased innovation, and a more engaged workforce. However, a recent report from The Christopher

Academic Search Recruits CEO for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities

Jay Lemons, Jennifer Kooken, and Maria Thompson of education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has recruited Charles L. Welch as its new president and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). After five years of service, the current president, Mildred García, has stepped down. “We are thrilled to welcome Chuck Welch as the new president and

Academic Search Recruits 18th President for Saint Michael’s College

Jay Lemons, Scott Flanagan, Jennifer Kooken, and Kate Cusimano of education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search assisted in the recruitment of Richard Plumb as the 18th president of Saint Michael’s College. Lorraine Sterritt recently announced she was stepping down after becoming the first woman to lead the college. Dr. Plumb was selected by the college’s board of trustees with guidance from

Academic Search

Press Releases

St. Norbert College Names New Dean of Humanities

(July 22, 2020) Jennifer Hockenbery Dragseth, Ph.D., was named dean of humanities at St. Norbert College effective July 1. Hockenbery previously served as a professor and chair of the theology and philosophy departments at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, where she worked for 22 years. “It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Jennifer Hockenbery Dragseth

CUNY Names Four College Presidents

(June 29, 2020) The Board of Trustees of the City University of New York today voted to appoint accomplished, experienced and diverse leaders as presidents of York College, and Borough of Manhattan, LaGuardia and Queensborough Community Colleges. The appointments bring to seven the number of presidential vacancies filled in the last five months by Chancellor

Texas Private College Association Announces New Leadership

(June 29, 2020) – The Board of Directors of Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Inc. (ICUT) today announced Dr. Steven Johnson as President of ICUT, effective July 1. Johnson succeeds Ray Martinez III, who departed ICUT in February. Johnson joins ICUT from Western Governors University Texas, where he served as Chancellor and Regional Vice

Chancellor McCall Names Dr. Alisa White Sole Finalist For Sam Houston State University Presidency

(June 18, 2020) Chancellor Brian McCall has selected Alisa White, Ph.D., as sole finalist for the presidency of Sam Houston State University. Dr. White, currently president of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, was selected from a field of 120 candidates following a national search. Dr. White, a Texas native, previously served as vice

Board of Regents Appoints Dr. Melody Rose as next NSHE Chancellor

(June 18, 2020) The Nevada Board of Regents today unanimously approved the selection of Dr. Melody Rose as the next chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), effective Sept. 1, 2020. During a 25-year career in higher education Dr. Rose has been a leader as an academic faculty member and administrator, who has

Academic Search

Multimedia

Talent Talks

Videos

Academic Search: Setting the Standard for Excellence in Higher Education Executive Search
Academic Search: Executive Coaching Designed for Higher Education Leaders
Academic Search: Committed to Identifying and Developing Leaders in Higher Education

Podcasts

Today’s higher education leaders share their stories and insights about leadership in the academy. Join host Jay Lemons and his guests for thoughtful conversations and interesting perspectives on leadership.

Leaders on Leadership is brought to you by Academic Search and the American Academic Leadership Institute, who together support colleges and universities during times of transition and through leadership development activities that serve current and future generations of institutional leaders.

To listen to the Leaders on Leadership podcasts, click here!

Further Research/Insights