Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
September 18, 2026 – Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support groundbreaking research, enhances collaboration, and enables leading-edge innovation across the university’s research enterprise.
The AVP for research computing and data will spearhead the creation, operationalization, and long-term advancement of a leadership-class research computing and data ecosystem, providing the strategic vision, institutional coordination, and execution required to build and sustain this effort.
This role is vital to enabling CMU’s faculty and students to operate at the pinnacle of innovation, discovery, and translation, fostering a community of excellence that empowers research, learning, talent development, and societal engagement.
This leadership position requires proven management and strategic leadership skills with exemplary communication skills to lead research computing development and coordination across the university’s colleges and programs. The AVP RCD will be an entrepreneurial domain expert with a combination of vision, organizational savvy, skill in generating resources and leading change, and the emotional intelligence to build partnerships and create alignment across organizational boundaries. The successful candidate will have a master’s degree, with a PhD preferred, and 10 or more years of experience in research computing, with demonstrated success in leadership roles. A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.
Established in 1900, Carnegie Mellon consistently ranks among America’s top 25 universities according to the national U.S. News & World Report rankings. The school counts 13,961 students from 109 countries, more than 105,000 living alumni and over 5,000 faculty and staff.
Harris Search Associates, an IIC Partners member firm, is a global higher education executive search and board advisory consulting firm with 44 offices in 33 countries worldwide. The firm’s higher education executive search practice is focused on identifying and attracting leaders to support the growth of clients in the areas of research, science, engineering, academic medicine, and healthcare enterprises. Clients include leading universities, research parks, institutes, academic medical centers, and healthcare organizations driving global innovation and discovery. Founded in 1997, Harris Search Associates was modeled after the first premier management consulting firms, in addition to its Ohio headquarters, the firm has regional offices in San Francisco and Dallas.
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Mr. Harris is the founder of the firm and leads the higher education, academic medicine, and healthcare administration practices. Prior to establishing the firm in 1997, Mr. Harris worked five years for a leading retained executive search firm where he concentrated on senior assignments on behalf of leading engineering, research, and health sciences clients. He is the global leader of the IIC Partners higher education/academic medicine practice, and from 2010 to 2013, was appointed to the board of IIC Partners as vice chair for the Americas.
Mr. Christ is an executive search professional and human resources consultant with more than 20 years of experience in non-profit and for-profit industries, including higher education, healthcare/life sciences, engineering and consulting, industrial/manufacturing, and financial services. His executive search experience includes research and recruitment from the C-level executive to the specialized technical level.
Ferris University Search
Harris Search Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Sean Lancaster as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Ferris University. He succeeds Dr. Bobby Fleischman, who has served in the role since 2020. “Dr. Lancaster is passionate about creating environments where all students, staff, and faculty can thrive, building an equitable academic community and preparing people for success,” Ferris State president Bill Pink said. “That fits perfectly with the vision of this university since its founding and where we are headed as an opportunity university.”
Mr. Lancaster has served at Grand Valley State University since 2000, most recently as associate vice president for academic affairs, where he oversaw accreditation, assessment and strategic planning initiatives.
Ferris University, located in Big Rapids, Michigan, is a public institution known for its strong focus on career-oriented education and hands-on learning. Founded in 1884 by Woodbridge N. Ferris, who later became the governor of Michigan and a U.S. senator, the university began as the Big Rapids Industrial School with a mission to provide practical education for all.
Related: Harris Search Associates Assists Simmons University with Search for New Dean
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
