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.
The success of our team is a customer-centric approach and dedication to providing an exceptional search experience by delivering premium services, solutions, candidate pools, and search success.
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.
Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has assisted in the recruitment of Christopher Robinson as the new provost for Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. Robyn Hannigan stepped down from the role last June to become president of nearby Ursinus College. Jennifer Muller, managing partner, led the search. “We are thrilled to have Chris Robinson take on the permanent
The chief compliance officer is a corporate executive within the C-suite responsible for overseeing and managing regulatory compliance issues within an organization. The CCO typically reports to the CEO of the chief legal officer. The responsibilities of the chief compliance officer include: Leading enterprise compliance efforts; designing and implementing internal controls, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance
After a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has assisted in the recruitment of Sacha Joseph-Mathews as founding chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at California State University, Stanislaus (CSU). Managing partner Jennifer Muller led the assignment for the search firm. Dr. Joseph-Mathews has over 15 years of experience training executives, managers, and organizations in unconscious bias and
After a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has placed Chris Culbertson as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University (K-State). Dr. Culbertson, interim dean for nearly a year, has also served as a professor of chemistry and associate dean of research and graduate studies. He was
(February 11, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Chair for the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search. The next Chair will lead one of
(January 29, 2026, 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 Melissa McGovern, securing the role as the next Associate Dean of Nursing at Schoolcraft College. Melissa McGovern will serve in this critical role,
(January 29, 2026, 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 Dr. Julia Johnson, securing the role as the next Vice President for Academic Services at Imperial Valley College. With more than two decades
(January 29, 2026, 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 Dr. Darryl D. Wright-Greene, securing the role as the next Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer at North Carolina Agricultural and
(January 29, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Chief Information Officer at Central New Mexico Community College. Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search. This role is designed for an experienced CIO with strong