At the heart of every thriving society is a quality education, and the leaders courageous enough to advance it. That conviction drove our founders when they established GA&A in 2004. Former university presidents and tenured faculty, they understood from lived experience the profound impact exceptional leadership has on institutional vitality and mission. We believe that leaders, at every level, shape what an institution can become and what it can offer the world. That belief remains the foundation of everything we do.
Over the last two decades, GA&A has evolved into something beyond a search firm. We are a leadership solutions practice, applying the science of leadership assessment to help institutions find, develop, and sustain the leaders they need to thrive. Our work is grounded in evidence: behavioral science, predictive modeling, and decades of placement data drawn from over 2,000 successful engagements across higher education and K-12 systems. We don’t simply recruit — we listen, evaluate, advise, and partner with institutions at every stage of the leadership lifecycle.
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, and strengthened through our integration with Kelly Services, Inc., GA&A brings national reach and deep sector expertise to every engagement. Our twenty-plus consultants are strategically positioned across the country — former presidents, provosts, student affairs leaders, and senior administrators from across the education landscape. Together, they bring practitioner credibility alongside rigorous methodology. Whether conducting a comprehensive executive search, building a targeted recruitment pool, providing executive coaching, or placing experienced interim leaders during times of transition, our focus remains the same: helping institutions secure the leadership they need to advance their mission and strengthen the communities they serve.
The GA&A team is a nationally recognized group of education-focused leadership consultants who bring something most search firms cannot: we have led the institutions we serve. Former presidents, provosts, deans, student affairs leaders, and senior administrators from across the education sector, our consultants combine practitioner insight with rigorous, evidence-based methodology to identify leaders with the capability, values, and vision each institution needs to move forward.
Executive Search:
At Greenwood Asher & Associates, we approach executive search a little differently than most. We believe in the power of partnerships and collaboration, combined with evidence-based best practices and experience, to design a customized search for the unique needs and characteristics of each institution we serve. By providing concierge-level service and support to our clients and candidates, we are able to identify and recruit high-quality, diverse, executive talent. Our comprehensive referencing allows the search committee to confidently assess candidates and select the best person to lead the institution in fulfilling its mission.
Key positions we support:
Coaching & Assessment:
Educational organizations know that learning never ends. For true leaders, there’s always room for self-discovery and growth. We customize our services to develop senior and emerging leaders for long-term success through coaching partnerships and use of objective, predictive, and analytical tools.
Identifying the right leader often begins with an accurate and reliable assessment of current leadership competencies. During the selection process, we use a highly effective assessment tool that measures behaviors and maps them to a relevant competency model. Considered in combination with other information, valid and reliable assessment data supports a more informed selection process.
Strategic Services:
High performing leaders constantly evaluate their organization’s performance and potential to ensure growth and sustainability. We support our clients by facilitating strategic planning, conducting academic program/organizational reviews, and benchmarking policies and practices. We partner with institutions to design a planning process that best matches the culture and needs of the institution. Our work includes the use of evidence-based approaches, assessment of current and desired status through multiple mechanisms, grassroots engagement, development of measurement dashboards, and leadership development for those involved with strategic planning implementation.
INTERIM SEARCH SERVICES:
Leadership transitions are defining moments for institutions. When a gap emerges, expected or not, how an institution navigates that period shapes its trajectory long after a permanent leader is in place. We match institutions with experienced leaders who bring not only the credentials to stabilize operations, but the judgment and adaptability to advance mission-critical priorities during transition. Backed by GA&A’s national network and evidence-based assessment methodology, we move with urgency without sacrificing quality.
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has placed Jennifer Chrisler as the 9th president of Hampshire College. The search was led by Jim Johnsen and Lauren McCaghren. “Jennifer Chrisler’s exemplary leadership has already proven essential for the college, with a combination of vision and resilience that makes her a perfect fit for us as an
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates is currently conducting a search for a new provost and vice president for academic affairs for West Virginia University (WVU). Julie Holley and Julie Schrodt are leading the assignment for the search firm. Under the leadership of its new president Michael Benson, the university seeks an inspirational academic
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates was recently retained by Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, to lead in its search for new president. The search is being led by Jim Johnsen and Lauren McCaghren. Hampshire is seeking a president who believes deeply in the college’s founding vision and who will embrace those principles to chart a
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Brad Hodson as the 19th president of Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). Julie Schrodt, senior executive search consultant, and Jim Johnsen, vice president of executive search, led the assignment. Following a rigorous application review and interview process, the appointment of Dr. Hodson culminates
Miramar Beach, Florida – July 17, 2023 – Greenwood Asher & Associates’ vice president of executive search, Dr. Tracey L. Weldon, was recently featured on national media for her role as an executive editor and advisory board member of the forthcoming Oxford Dictionary of African American English. The dictionary, a collaborative effort between Oxford Languages
MIRAMAR BEACH, FL (February 1, 2023) – Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) today announced the appointment of four new vice presidents and experienced higher education and executive search professionals as senior members of its leadership team, alongside GA&A vice president and managing director Susanne Griffin who leads the firm. The expanded leadership team – which
(June 2021) Jan Greenwood, co-owner and partner at Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC and Marion Frenche, practice manager at the woman-owned executive search, consulting and training firm, were recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts, (SIA) as two of 2021’s #Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion influencers. Ms. Greenwood and Ms. Frenche’s critical work in diversifying leadership in higher education,
(July 2, 2020) Mary Pedersen, a distinguished educator and veteran administrator, has been named to serve as the next Provost and Executive Vice President at Colorado State University. Pedersen, who comes to CSU from Cal Poly where she most recently served as Interim Provost, will assume her duties at CSU on Aug. 1. The Provost
Mr. Clifford Porter, J.D. will join Norfolk State University in the role of Vice President for University Advancement. As the University’s Chief Giving Officer, Mr. Porter will grow NSU’s private giving portfolio and lead the University’s forthcoming capital campaign. Mr. Porter comes to NSU from Bethune-Cookman University where he has served as Vice President for