Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading General Counsel Search for Illinois State University

October 8, 2026 – Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) was recently selected by Illinois State University to lead in its search for a general counsel. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jim Johnsen are leading the assignment.

Reporting directly to the president and serving as a member of the president’s cabinet, the general counsel will serve as the University’s chief legal officer and provide strategic legal counsel on matters affecting the institution. This leader will oversee the office of general counsel, advise senior leadership, support compliance and risk management efforts, supervise legal staff and outside counsel, and provide guidance on a wide range of state and federal issues impacting the University.

Illinois State seeks an experienced, collaborative, and strategic legal leader with deep knowledge of higher education law and a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, access, and belonging. The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to build trusted partnerships across a complex university environment.

Illinois State University is a public research university in Normal, Illinois. It was founded in 1857 and is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the US according to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. Total on-campus enrollment is 20,233, with 17,674 undergraduate students, and 2,559 graduate students.

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.

Ms. Pybus-Jerome serves as a senior executive search consultant at GA&A, where she exemplifies a blend of executive search proficiency and higher education industry acumen. With a dedication to fostering client-focused solutions and achieving impactful search outcomes, she brings a track record of cultivating and maintaining process integrity. Her recruitment experience focuses on university-wide executive administration in academic affairs, advancement, finance and administration, research & innovation, and student affairs, as well as deanships within business, arts & sciences, education, and honors colleges. Ms. Pybus-Jerome’s prior experience spans over 15 years in higher education administration, experiencing the search process from the clients’ point of view while leading executive-level search initiatives for Central Michigan University.

Mr. Johnsen serves Greenwood Asher & Associates and its clients by developing partnerships informed by his background in, and passion for, leadership in higher education, business, and government. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a senior fellow at the National Association of System Heads (NASH), lecturer in the School of Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, commissioner for the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, and Alaska representative to the State Higher Education Executive Officers.

College of Charleston Search

Greenwood Asher & Associates is also currently seeking a chief marketing officer and vice president for marketing and communications for the College of Charleston. The College of Charleston seeks a strategic and innovative marketing executive to lead an integrated marketing and communications enterprise that advances the College’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.

Reporting directly to the president and serving on the president’s cabinet, the CMO and VP provides executive leadership for the office of university marketing and communications. This role is responsible for strengthening the College’s brand, enhancing its national visibility, and ensuring consistent, high-impact engagement with internal and external audiences.

For this role, candidates must have a minimum of 10 years progressive leadership experience in marketing, communications, or related fields. A bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, or a related field is preferred as well as a strong understanding of and experience with digital and traditional marketing, with a focus on measurable outcomes. Experience building or repositioning a brand and translating institutional values into a compelling narrative is also need along with demonstrated success leading integrated marketing and communications functions in complex organizations.

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

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