About Us

Harris Search Associates is a leading global executive search and board advisory consulting firm. Modeled after the first premier management-consulting firms, in 1997, we launched our practice exclusively focused on executive search and management consulting of executive leadership to support the growth of the foremost universities, research parks, institutes, academic medical centers, children’s hospitals and healthcare organizations driving global innovation and discovery. Based in Columbus Ohio, we have additional regional offices in San Francisco and Dallas. We have successfully completed over 900 assignments.

We are the only national firm that combines the recruiting and leadership assessment expertise of consultants from the largest, most well-recognized retained search organizations with highly respected, former university Presidents, Provosts, Deans, Vice Presidents, and senior administrators from across the country.

At the highest level, retained executive search is a combination of both art and science. We are naturally curious, listen intently, and fervent in our aggressive recruitment of talent. Analytics, assessment tools, artificial intelligence, and the efficient use of data help inform our judgment, but skillful, adept search counsel guides the relationship between each client and our firm.

Each year, our business is represented by over 70% from repeat client institutions. Over the life of our firm we have successfully completed 94% of engagements. Assignments are consistently completed within 110 days, utilizing a process that blends efficiency with thorough due diligence. Average tenure of candidates placed leads the industry at 4.6 years.

Recent Placements

Solutions And Expertise

Modelled after the first premier management consulting firms, our practice remains solely focused on the distinctive needs of higher education. We recognize the transformative impact higher education plays in the growth of our country and understand leadership of an academic enterprise is more challenging than it has ever been, requiring an increasingly wide range of skills to balance the diverse missions of research, education, and service.

The responsibility to serve as higher education executive search counsel to the foremost institutions that educate and train the next generation of scholars, creators, leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators remains an honor in every search assignment.

At the highest level, retained executive search remains a combination of both art and science. Analytics, assessment tools, the efficient use of data, and a reach that’s truly global informs our judgment; but, in the end, creation of a deep sense of partnership with mutual accountability, followed by specific, actionable recommendations, is paramount to our shared success.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss the future executive leadership needs at your institution.

Solutions
  • Executive Coaching
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership Consulting
  • Leadership Develop.
  • Mgmt. Consulting
Industries
  • Aerospace/Defense
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Government
  • Healthcare Services
Functions
  • Board/Governance
  • CEO/President/Executive Director
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Finance/Accounting
  • General Management
  • GM/Operations
  • Government
  • Human Resources
  • Information/Digital
  • Informational/Digital
  • Legal/Compliance
  • Marketing & Sales

News Briefings

Harris Search Associates and RGC Search Seek President for the University of Puthisastra

The University of Puthisastra (UP) in Cambodia has retained the services of Harris Search Associates and RGC Executive Search to finds its next president. Jeffrey Harris, founder and managing partner of Dublin, OH-based Harris Search, and Anthony Ainsworth, director of Bangkok, Thailand-based RGC Search, are leading the assignment. The organizations are members of IIC Partners,

Harris Search Associates Tapped By University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
Harris Search Associates University of Buffalo School Dental Medicine

Universities have long depended on executive search firms to help with their leadership needs, but these days the higher education sector is broadening its efforts to find more specialized leaders. As a result, search firms have expanded their niche offerings in the sector, identifying athletic directors, coaches and any number of other top posts. The

Hunt Scanlon’s 10 Best Interviews of 2016

If Hunt Scanlon Media has one best kept secret, it is the vast professional and tightly focused network that we communicate with every day, both on and off the grid. Hunt Scanlon provides daily market intelligence briefings and data analytics to an expanding universe of global talent acquisition leaders – 72 percent of them on

Keeping Talent Pipelines Full In the Academic Research and Health Sciences Fields

While universities have been turning to executive search firms for their leadership needs for years, the higher education sector has been broadening its reach to hunt for more specialized leaders. As a result, search firms have expanded their niche offerings to the sector, identifying athletic directors, coaches, and any number of other top posts for

Press Releases

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine selects Harris Search Associates to lead Chair of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Search

DUBLIN, OH, January 10, 2018 – University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine has selected Harris Search Associates to lead its Chair of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery search. Established in 1892, the School of Dental Medicine (SDM) continues to educate general practitioners, specialists and biomedical scientists in the art and science of oral health through its comprehensive accredited programs:

Harris Search Associates Places Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Missouri S&T

DUBLIN, OH, May 26, 2017 — Harris Search Associates has recruited Dr. Richard Wlezien as Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). Dr. Richard W. Wlezien, the Vance and Arlene Coffman Endowed Department Chair in Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University and a

Harris Search Associates Recruits Dr. Mark S. Johnson MD. MPH as Chair of the Department of Community and Family Medicine at the Howard University College of Medicine

DUBLIN, OH, November 25, 2016 — Harris Search Associates has recruited Dr. Mark S. Johnson MD. MPH as the next Chair of the Department of Community and Family Medicine at the Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM). Prior to his current position, he served previously as Dean at Howard, and previously as Chair of the Department of Family

Harris Search Associates Recruits Renee Coleman-Mitchell as Executive Director for Health and Wellness Services/Counseling and Psychological Services at Washington State University

DUBLIN, OH, September 30, 2016 — Harris Search Associates has recruited Renee Coleman-Mitchell as the next Executive Director for Health and Wellness Services, Counseling and Psychological Services at Washington State University. Reporting to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Executive Director (ED) provides strategic vision, leadership, advocacy for, and management of Health and Wellness Services and Counseling and Psychological

Harris Search Associates has Recruited Dr. Jason Bentley as Vice President for Student Success at Morehead State University

DUBLIN, OH, August 1, 2016 — Morehead State University President Wayne D. Andrews has announced the hiring of Dr. Jason Bentley as the new vice president for student success. He will assume his new position Aug. 8. Dr. Bentley comes to MSU from Central Michigan University where he served as Office of Student Success director since January