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, diverse, and ever-expanding 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

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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.

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

News Briefings

Academic Search Recruits President for United Lutheran Seminary

Following an extensive search, education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has assisted the United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) in the placement of Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin as its next president. His appointment is effective Aug. 1. Bishop Erwin succeeds interim president, the Rev. Dr. Angela Zimmann. Bishop Erwin, the fourth bishop of the Southwest California Synod of

Academic Search Seeks New President for California Lutheran University

Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search  has been enlisted to find the next president for California Lutheran University. Jay Lemons, president and senior consultant; Stuart Dorsey, senior consultant; and Jennifer Kooken, associate consultant, are leading the assignment. Last fall, Chris Kimball, who has held the job for 12 years, announced that he would be stepping down at

Academic Search Recruits President for Norwich University

Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has recruited Col. Mark Anarumo as the new president of Norwich University in Northfield, VT. After more than 28 years of service, Richard W. Schneider is stepping down from the role in June. Andrea Warren Hamos and Maya Ranchod Kirkhope led the assignment. “The board of trustees is very excited to name

Navigating the Insular World of Academic Recruiting

Confusion abounds in the marketplace regarding academic executive recruiting vs. corporate search work. Every search is unique, and each finds its own path. It’s possible, however, to draw some generalizations about the differences and similarities in search work, says Shawn M. Hartman, vice president and chief operating officer of Washington, D.C.-based Academic Search. “If you

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!

Insights