EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Bellevue College

January 28, 2025 – Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Bellevue College to lead in its search for a vice president of institutional advancement. Bellevue College is seeking a strategic and visionary leader. This executive reports to the president and is the primary liaison between the college and the community, serves as senior spokesperson for the institution, and coordinates all strategic and crisis communications. As a member of the president’s cabinet, the vice president of institutional advancement plays an integral role in the college’s operational administration, advising the president, board of trustees, and other senior leaders on all development, marketing, and communications matters.

This role requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution in philanthropy, communications, marketing, public administration, educational leadership, or a related field; a graduate degree and/or equivalent credential is preferred, ideally in an appropriate and relevant field of study. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated expertise in institutional advancement, marketing, and communications, especially within strategic and crisis communication, according to the job specification. Progressive experience within the Washington community and technical college system is preferred.

The next vice president will be a steadfast advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across all dimensions of the college, according to EQU Advisors. This person will have a demonstrated record of success championing leadership efforts that advance racial equity and foster a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice. This person will have a demonstrated commitment to and track record of promoting and supporting the trajectory of students and the careers of individuals from historically excluded and underrepresented populations. The next VP will be self-motivated, proactive, resourceful, adept at building relationships, empathetic, a servant leader, and service-oriented with a keen focus on the organization they serve.

Bellevue College is a diverse student-centered college with the mission of teaching excellence that advances the life-long educational development of its students while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of its diverse community. Bellevue College is located 10 miles east of Seattle and has a student population of 20,000, with over 57 percent students of color, and over 1,300 international students.

The Institutional Advancement (IA) Division of Bellevue College works across the whole academic enterprise to solidify a multi-faceted culture of brand awareness, philanthropy, and internal and external engagement. The division includes the Bellevue College Foundation, Marketing & Communications, 91.3 KBCS Radio, the College Website. The division supports the college’s mission by increasing knowledge of and giving to Bellevue College.

EQU Advisors has worked with Bellevue College in the past. Below is a list of searches the firm has completed for the school:

Serving Higher Education and Non-Profit Institutions

EQU Advisors is co-founded by Veena Abraham and Robert Luke. The firm serves higher education and non-profit institutions and leaders through executive search, management consulting, and candidate advising. Throughout our careers, they have completed approximately 200 searches across a full range of private and public institutions including liberal arts colleges, regional universities and colleges, research universities and institutes, members of the Ivy League, as well as national non-profit organizations.

Related: Finding Senior Leaders for Higher Education Institutions

EQU Advisors’ experience includes searches for presidents and chief executive officers, provosts and vice presidents, deans and other leadership positions. Eighty-two percent of the firm’s placements within the last three years identified as women; Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, or from two or more races; and/or part of the LGBTQIA+ communities.

Ms. Abraham draws upon her experience as an attorney, higher education administrator, and executive search consultant. Based in Orlando, FL, she has experience in a range of searches for senior academic administrators, including presidents, provosts, and deans at distinguished educational and cultural institutions across the nation. Prior to becoming a higher education consultant, Ms. Abraham was senior director of regional engagement for the University of Miami in Florida.

Mr. Luke draws upon 20 years of higher education consulting and administrative experience supporting universities, colleges, and non-profit institutions through complex leadership transitions. Based in Providence, RI, he has a record placing vice presidents for academic affairs, finance and development as well as deans of architecture, science and engineering, social work and social policy. Additionally, Mr. Luke has completed several CEO searches for leading scientific centers, institutes and laboratories, and non-profit organizations. In addition to consulting, he is known for his administrative and operational leadership, which he developed across a variety of sectors. He came to higher education consulting in 2013 from George Washington University.

Related: Colleges and Universities Rely on Search Firms to Find Leaders in Polarizing Times

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

Share This Article

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments