AGB Search

About Us

AGB Search offers executive search, interim search, and compensation evaluation services exclusively for higher education institutions. Founded by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) in 2010, we have an unmatched understanding of the qualifications critical for effective higher education leadership.Our affiliation with AGB ensures clients receive access to valued governance resources and training, in addition to our highly-regarded search services.

AGB Search’s Executive Search Consultants have extensive experience in higher education search, and many have served in college and university leadership positions. We have a team of Associates and Research Associates who expertly manage the search and vetting process, and our staff serves as critical support to the search professionals. Our track record provides institutional search teams with the confidence that their search will be successful.

Our deep expertise, coupled with our commitment to our work, results in successful outcomes for both clients and candidates. We have completed more than 1,370 search assignments, more than 365 of which were Presidents or Chancellors. Fifty percent of our appointments are women or people of color, and 93 percent of our appointments stay in their positions for at least five years.

Achievements

Recent Assignments

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Most of our search consultants are former presidents or senior executives of public and private four-year institutions, state and university systems, and community colleges.

AGB Search

Solutions And Expertise

Our deep expertise, coupled with our commitment to our work, results in successful outcomes for both clients and candidates. We have completed more than 1,370 search assignments, more than 365 of which were Presidents or Chancellors. Fifty percent of our appointments are women or people of color, and 93 percent of our appointments stay in their positions for at least five years.

Solutions
  • Anti-Bias Training
  • Behavioral and Cognitive Assessment
  • Compensation Consulting
  • Executive Coaching
  • Executive Compensation
  • Executive Search
  • Interim
  • Interim Search
  • Interim Staff and Consultants
  • Interim Staffing
  • Leadership Consulting
  • Leadership Develop.
  • Personality Assessment
  • Presidential Transition Support
Industries
  • Associations
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Foundations
  • Higher Education
  • Non-Profits
Functions
  • Administration & Finance
  • Advancement
  • Advancement & Foundations
  • Community College Leaders
  • Foundations
  • Presidents & Chancellors
  • Provosts & Deans
  • Research
  • Research & Develop.

AGB Search

News Briefings

Western Colorado University Retains AGB Search for Senior Assignment

Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been selected by Western Colorado University to lead in its search for vice president of advancement and executive director of the WCU Foundation. This unique opportunity allows a seasoned advancement executive to build on the momentum created from the highly successful Elevate Western Campaign.

AGB Search Seeking President for Saint Leo University

Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, was recently retained by Saint Leo University to lead in its search for a new president. Senior executive search consultant Sally Mason and executive search consultant Larry Ladd are spearheading the assignment. The new president will succeed Dr. Edward Dadez, who first joined Saint Leo

AGB Assists Savannah State University with President Search

Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped recruit Jermaine Whirl as the new president of Savannah State University (SSU). His appointment follows being named the sole finalist last week after a rigorous six-month national presidential search. SSU has been led by Cynthia Alexander since July 2023, following the departure of president

AGB Search Helps the University of Colorado Denver Fill Chancellor Role

Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, recently assisted in the recruitment of Kenneth T. Christensen as the next chancellor of the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver). Roderick McDavis, Monica Burton, Kimberly Templeton, and Carlos Hernandez led the assignment. Dr. Christensen was selected following a national search, and he will officially begin as chancellor on

AGB Search

Press Releases

AGB Search Continues Growth with New Executive Search Consultants

New consultants bring a diverse wealth of experience to higher education searches WASHINGTON, D.C., August 14, 2023 – AGB Search, a national leader in higher education executive search, continues to grow its roster of executive search consultants. During its 2022-2023 fiscal year, the firm has brought on nearly a dozen experts in higher education leadership

AGB Search Welcomes Matthew Kilcoyne As Principal

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 11, 2023 – AGB Search, a national leader in higher education executive search, has announced the appointment of Matthew Kilcoyne as the firm’s newest principal. Kilcoyne brings extensive higher education executive search experience to the firm, having served as consultant, speaker and panelist in the field for over 20 years. Kilcoyne’s executive

AGB Search Announces Recent Leadership Appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 23, 2022 – AGB Search, a national leader in higher education executive search, is pleased to announce the following recent appointments: Benedict College has appointed Akilah Carter-Francique as the new dean of education. Carter-Francique joins Benedict College after serving as executive director for the Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and

AGB Search Explores The Role of Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education – Voices from the Academy episode features Rider University Chief Diversity Officer Barbara J. Lawrence

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 20, 2022 – AGB Search, a national leader in higher education executive search, examines the challenges and successes of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts at colleges and universities with the newest installment of its video series Voices from the Academy. The series features higher education leaders who are meeting today’s challenges

AGB Search

Multimedia

Podcasts

Cultivating the Higher Education Leadership Pipeline

In this brand new episode of ‘Talent Talks,’ Hunt Scanlon Media host Rob Adams is joined by Dr. Rod McDavis, managing principal of AGB Search and former President of Ohio University; and Dr. Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor Emerita, State University of New York. Together, Drs. McDavis and Zimpher founded the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance

Blogs

Videos

AGB Search

Voices from the Academy Video Series

President Joan Gabel, University of Minnesota
Dr. M. Brian Blake (Part 1), George Washington University; COVID, Black Lives Matter
Dr. M. Brian Blake (Part 2); George Washington University; Enrollment & Campus Engagement
Dr. M. Brian Blake (Part 3), George Washington University; The Role of Provost
President Keith Whitfield, University of Nevada, Las Vegas