Greenwood Asher & Associates Assists the University of Arkansas System with President Search
November 21, 2024 – Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has helped to recruit retired United States Air Force lieutenant general Jay B. Silveria as the next president of the University of Arkansas System.
Julie Holley and Marion Frenche led the assignment for the search firm. Mr. Silveria is expected to start his new role January 15, 2025, contingent upon the successful negotiation of an employment agreement as directed by the board.
Current UA system president Donald R. Bobbitt announced plans last summer to retire after more than 13 years at the helm of the state’s largest higher education system. The board of trustees engaged in a national search, led by trustee Scott Ford, in August that culminated in a series of specially called meetings to consider candidates for the position.
“We are tremendously honored to have had the highest quality of candidates show interest in being the next president of the UA System, and also to have a dedicated group of trustees that was very deliberate in choosing the right person for this important position,” said Kelly Eichler, chair of the UA board. “I believe we’ve found a proven leader who brings unmatched qualities, achievements and experience from his time in the military and in higher education to our system that will help us navigate the myriad of opportunities and issues facing our campuses, divisions and units. The board is very proud of this selection, and we are looking forward to welcoming general Silveria and his family to Arkansas, and helping him familiarize himself with our unique system and our dedicated students, faculty and staff across the state.”
Mr. Silveria, a command pilot with more than 3,900 hours in elite military aircraft, retired from a 35-year career in the U.S. Air Force in November 2020, after spending the last three years of his service as superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Shortly after retirement, he was appointed the associate vice president and executive director of Texas A&M University and the Bush School of Government & Public Service in Washington, D.C., which serves graduate students looking to boost careers in government and public service and the broader Texas A&M University community.
“The last several years of working in a university setting have given me a firsthand view of the transformational power of public higher education in peoples’ lives,” Mr. Silveria said. “I am humbled by this opportunity to lead the UA system and feel that there is tremendous potential to build on its outstanding reputation and high-quality programming. It’s clear to me that Dr. Bobbitt and the rest of the leadership across the system have us well positioned to continue our mission to provide the highest quality education, research and public service to the people of Arkansas and beyond. I could not be in this position without the guidance and support I’ve had from my colleagues and family along the way, and certainly not without the vision and dedication of the UA board, to which I am grateful for this opportunity.”
Related: Greenwood Asher & Associates Places Provost at George Mason University
With 20 campuses, divisions and units, and a budget of more than $4 billion, the University of Arkansas System is the largest higher education system in the state. It comprises six campuses; a medical school; two law schools; a graduate school focused on public service a historically black college, statewide research, service, and educational units for agriculture, criminal justice, archeology; and several community colleges. Over 50,000 students are enrolled in over 188 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.
Higher Education Specialists
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.
As associate vice president of executive search, Ms. Holley has been an integral member of the Greenwood Asher & Associates team. She has completed hundreds of searches for the firm, putting a particular emphasis on identifying and recruiting leaders for presidential searches. In her work as a search consultant and practice leader, she has conducted searches in the full range of higher education organizations, but particularly focuses on searches at AAU and high extensive research and doctoral institutions. Ms. Holley has a track record of recruiting leaders into positions at the cabinet level, including presidents, provosts, and deans. She also specializes in searches for positions relating to her legal background, including law dean and general counsel positions and other legal-related positions in higher education.
Ms. Frenche is associate vice president of executive search and practice leader for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has worked in executive search since 1998 and has managed searches with three international executive search firms. She has completed over 500 searches for executives in higher education, K-12, healthcare, academic medicine, and information technology. These positions have been in public and private higher education institutions and system offices, K-12 schools and systems, academic health and healthcare organizations, and non-profits. Ms. Frenche also has considerable search experience serving mission-driven organizations such as associations and foundations and in higher education board development.
Related: Greenwood Asher & Associates Recruits President for Milwaukee Area Technical College
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
