Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) is a full-service, retained search firm founded in 2004 by Dr. Jan Greenwood and Dr. Betty Asher, who have both served as tenured professors and university presidents. They have shared their deep understanding of the organizational structures and challenges within higher education with the GA&A team. This shared knowledge has provided a solid foundation for our continued growth through evidence-based process and commitment to diversity. Their pioneering spirit has created opportunities for hundreds of leaders during the past 30 years.
GA&A believes that successful searches are accomplished through trusting relationships with clients and candidates, and by offering comprehensive and customizable search processes that deliver effective outcomes. As a result, GA&A has a notable repeat client rate – a testament to our acuity, expertise, and longevity.
GA&A is now one of the premier education executive search firms within the United States. Our results-driven team of highly trained consultants possesses the specialized skillset to both recruit future leaders and deliver prompt, clear communications to clients and stakeholders.
In 2020, GA&A joined forces with Kelly® Education. We now leverage the strength of our parent company to offer strategic search partnerships throughout the continuum of education.
The firm is a woman-led executive search, consulting and training firm with a diverse recruiting and consulting team. They have extensive expertise and experience with executive search, consulting and training in education and nonprofit organizations.
Jan Greenwood and Betty Asher, founders of G/A&A, have deep roots in higher education, having both served as tenured professors and presidents of universities.
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.
A growing number of top colleges around the country are looking for high-profile leaders to take them into the future. In most cases, executive recruiting firms have had a hand in some aspect of the search and selection process. Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search, for one, has been enlisted to find the next president for the University
Greenwood / Asher & Associates is helping to find the next chancellor for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS). Former chancellor Paul Beran left the school in August to accept a position with the South Dakota Higher Education Board of Regents. Margaret Tanner, associate provost for academic affairs at the Fort Smith campus and search
Greenwood / Asher & Associates has been retained by the University of South Florida (USF) to spearhead the search for its seventh president. Judy Genshaft is stepping down after 19 years leading the school. Les Muma, chair of the search committee, said in a conference call last week that four search firms were presented and he
The hunt for university leadership has been heating up, especially with searches for provosts. Just recently, Greenwood / Asher & Associates recruited Susan Edwards as the new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of Wright State University in Fairborn, OH. Thomas Sudkamp is stepping down from his role at the end of June. President Jan