Greenwood Asher & Associates Assists Murray State with Provost Search
May 5, 2026 – Following a national search, Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Paul Twigg as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Murray State. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Twigg to Murray State University as our next provost and vice president for academic affairs,” said Murray State president Ron Patterson. “Dr. Twigg brings more than 30 years of academic experience, collaboration, leadership and excellence. He will serve well in this key role to help guide our institution. I am grateful to our executive search committee as well as Greenwood Asher & Associates for their commitment and assistance throughout the search process.”
Dr. Twigg brings more than 30 years of academic experience while advancing through multiple levels of leadership at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), a regional state university of nearly 5,700 students that has been recognized as one of the top Midwest regional public universities by U.S. News & World Report.
Since 2022, Dr. Twigg has served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest academic college within UNK, with responsibilities including budgetary direction, oversight and planning, strategic plan development, and faculty and staff position development, recruitment and retention.
As dean, Dr. Twigg launched workforce recruiting and development academies, increased student success efforts with the creation of the first associate dean for retention and success position, developed and promoted interdisciplinary and intercampus collaborative degree programs, and increased fundraising and private support for the college.
Prior to his appointment as dean, Dr. Twigg served in various leadership positions at UNK including chair of the Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance, graduate chair of the Department of Biology, and assistant/associate dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.
As a researcher, Dr. Twigg has secured more than $32 million in grant funding and has presented at both national and international conferences. Additional professional experience includes service on multiple committees at UNK including the chancellor’s strategic planning committee, and the Nebraska Collaboration Initiative.
Dr. Twigg is a member of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences and American Society of Plant Biologists, and has been a grant or journal reviewer for organizations and publications including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Great Plains Research Journal.
“I am proud to be joining the Racer family as provost and vice president for academic affairs,” said Dr. Twigg. “I felt at home from the moment I walked onto the campus. I can’t wait to begin collaborating with the Murray State faculty, staff, and students, as well as president Patterson, to continue to elevate our programs and their impact in west Kentucky and beyond.”
Related: Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading Provost Search for the University of Cincinnati
Murray State offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across liberal arts, sciences, business, education, health sciences, and more. The university emphasizes accessibility and regional engagement, serving students from diverse backgrounds with a mix of academic coursework, research opportunities, and extracurricular activities. Murray State operates with a focus on student success through advising, career services, and support resources while maintaining connections with local communities and industries.
Finding Higher Education Leaders
Greenwood Asher & Associates is an executive search firm with a diverse consulting team and extensive experience in executive search, consulting, and training for education markets including elementary, secondary, higher education, university systems, campuses and non-profit organizations including associations, service, and cultural institutions. The firm was acquired in 2020 by Kelly Education, a global leader in workforce management solutions offering staffing services to top companies.
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As vice president of executive search, Mr. Duff brings the knowledge and experience of leading hundreds of high-profile executive level searches in the U.S. and worldwide in the private and public sectors. He previously served as managing director for the University of Virginia’s executive search group within the office of the president. In this role, he conducted senior leadership searches for the university and executive searches for university foundations. Mr. Duff also led the creation of the University of Virginia’s talent recruitment operation and served as a principal with DHR Global.
As a senior executive search consultant at Greenwood Asher & Associates, Ms. Stetson has broad recruitment expertise filling various senior positions. Prior to her current role, she was a paralegal, both for a private law firm and with the State of Florida. In these roles, she adeptly managed a range of cases, offering critical support to attorneys during both criminal and civil proceedings, as well as trials.
Related: Greenwood Asher & Associates Assists Southeast Missouri State University with President Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
