About Us

Leadership. Impact.

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) is exclusively dedicated to higher education institutions. Recognizing the unique challenges of the education landscape, our flexible, flat fee search services cater to any budget level, without compromising on quality. Backed by a team of strong researchers, we take pride in generating robust and diverse candidate pools, ensuring the best-fit talent for every position. We possess an unparalleled ability to reach passive candidates, granting you access to hidden talent gems. We are skilled in filling even the most challenging and niche academic, leadership, and senior staff positions.

Our customer-centric approach sets us apart as our highly responsive team consistently ensures a seamless and efficient recruitment process, tailored to your specific needs. Our clients include 4-year universities, 2-year colleges, public and private institutions, R1 research universities, and liberal arts colleges.

Achievements

Solutions And Expertise

We offer multiple levels of search services designed to meet your needs and budgets, giving you affordable options for every position level from faculty to senior administration.

We offer a fixed fee rather than a sliding scale or percentage of salary. Eliminated are additional monthly, research, administrative, or hourly/per diem fees, assuring stable fees over a search’s duration.

Enhanced Search:

Our most comprehensive level of service. We are involved in every step of the process from candidate profile development to final reference checks. Four levels of vetting include candidate review, social media and Google background check, candidate questionnaire and prescreen phone interview. Interview coordination and reference checks included. Placement guarantee included.

Full Search:

A slightly more economical search service including all items in the Enhanced Search including the four levels of vetting (candidate review, social media and Google check, candidate questionnaire and prescreen phone interview). Interview coordination and reference checks not included. Placement guarantee included.

Candidate Generator:

Our most economical level provides all stages included in the initial work to build the candidate pool. It includes three of the four levels of vetting (candidate review, social media and Google check, candidate questionnaire) including salary verification. Search committees review qualified candidates, conduct video interviews, identify finalists, and make the hire. Prescreen phone interview and written narrative, reference checks or interview coordination not included. Placement guarantee not included.

Faculty Hire:

Developed specifically for single or multi-hire faculty searches and offers the ability to hire multiple faculty from a single search effort. This level provides all stages included in the initial work to build the candidate pool and two of the four levels of vetting (candidate review, social media and Google check along with salary verification. Search committees review qualified candidates, conduct video interviews, identify finalists, and make the hire. ACES maintains weekly progress meetings throughout the search process. Candidate questionnaire, prescreen phone interview and written narrative, reference checks or interview coordination not included. Placement guarantee not included.

Solutions
  • Board Services
  • Career Services
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Executive Coaching
  • Executive Search
  • Interim
  • Leadership Develop.
  • On-Demand Recruiting
  • Onboarding
  • Recruitment Research

News Briefings

Academic Career & Executive Search Seeking CHRO for Boise State University

A number of universities have recently turned to search firms to find new chief human resources officers. Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has been called in by Boise State University to lead its search for a CHRO. Reporting directly to the president, the CHRO is a senior member of Boise State’s leadership team, responsible

Academic Career & Executive Search Seeking CEO for Kansas State University

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has been called in by Kansas State University Olathe to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Managing partner Jennifer Muller is spearheading the assignment. The university is seeking a dynamic individual with exceptional leadership, strategic and interpersonal capabilities. The CEO reports directly to the provost and executive

Academic Career & Executive Search Recruits Dean of Greehey School of Business at St. Mary’s University

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has placed Rowena Ortiz-Walters as the new dean of the Greehey School of Business at St. Mary’s University. She is the first Latina to lead the business school. Dr. Ortiz-Walters comes to St. Mary’s from SUNY Plattsburgh, a public liberal arts college that is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) System,

Academic Career & Executive Search Taps Founding Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has placed Tasha Alston as the inaugural chief diversity and inclusion officer for the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford in Bradford, PA. Jennifer Muller, managing partner and senior consultant, led the assignment for the search firm. “The University of Pittsburgh-Bradford required a committed, dynamic leader with a proven history of providing students

Press Releases

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Eastern New Mexico University

(February 2024, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Christy Johanson securing the role as Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Eastern New Mexico University. Christy Johanson comes to ENMU with

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology (Neuroscience) at Xavier University

(January 2024, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Spyridoula Cheimariou securing the role as Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology (Neuroscience) at Xavier University. Dr. Cheimariou is an accomplished researcher and educator with

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Associate Dean for Academic Programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

(February 2024, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Joachim Voss the role as Associate Dean of Academic Programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Joachim Voss is a nationally and

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Selected by Lawrence Technological University for Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Search

(February 2024, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Technological University. Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search. This is an exciting time for a dynamic

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Selected by Merrimack College for Founding Academic Program Director with Open-Rank Faculty Position in Information Technology Search

(February 2024, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Academic Program Director with an Open-Rank Non-Tenure Track Faculty Position in Information Technology at Merrimack College. Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search. This is an exciting