About Us

For more than four decades, Academic Search has offered executive search services to higher education institutions, associations, and related organizations. Academic Search was founded by higher education leaders on the principle that we provide the most value to partner institutions by combining best practices with our deep knowledge and experience. Our mission today is to enhance institutional capacity by providing outstanding executive recruitment services, executive coaching, and transition support, in partnership with our parent organization, the American Academic Leadership Institute.

Academic Search’s accomplished consultants have intimate knowledge of what makes a successful executive leader due to a combined 1600 years of higher education experience, and are unmatched in access to and knowledge about both current and rising leaders in higher education. The consultants leverage their extensive networks to gain access to a wide, diverse, and ever-expanding group of highly qualified potential candidates and referrals forged from relationships they developed from having previously served in campus leadership roles across the country.

Our Services

EXECUTIVE SEARCH

We understand that hiring qualified and effective new team members is critical to the life of any institution. As a trusted search partner, Academic Search is dedicated to providing service that our partner institutions can rely on unequivocally to achieve their recruitment goals and to support their overarching missions. We pledge to serve our partners with robust advocacy for their institutions and complete attention to their needs, while providing expert, ethical advisement and assistance throughout every search.

EXECUTIVE COACHING

Academic Search has long been committed to enhancing presidential and executive effectiveness and capacity through executive coaching. Our Executive Coaching Practice is designed to make strong leaders stronger. Our coaches serve as trusted companions and guides, committed to helping the executives with whom we work accomplish their leadership and institutional goals. This partnership is an invaluable investment in institutional vitality and well-being as much as it is an investment in the executive.

TRANSITION AND ONBOARDING

The creation and execution of a well-structured transition and onboarding plan is imperative to a successful integration process. We work with newly appointed leaders and their institutions in assuring that all are equipped to succeed and to advance the institutions. Our collaborative process is built on the imperatives of culture, context, and relational capital and includes custom-designed workshops that quickly acclimate any new leader to key stakeholders and the campus and broader communities.

For more information, visit www.academicsearch.org.

ACHIEVEMENTS

RECENT PLACEMENTS

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Academic Search is mission driven: We are institution builders focused on partnering with colleges and universities to assemble the best teams possible. We understand that hiring qualified and effective new team members is critical to the life of any institution. As your trusted partner, Academic Search pledges to serve you with robust advocacy for your institution, enthusiasm for your mission, complete attention to your needs, and expert, ethical advisement, and assistance throughout the search process.

One of the hallmarks of Academic Search is our use of a team approach that involves one or more senior consultants as well as a consultant and/or associate consultant. The team we propose for a search will have direct, hands-on overall responsibility for all consulting services provided throughout the search. This is a characteristic that distinguishes us from others and reflects our mission-focused approach. Our accomplished consultants are seasoned and thoughtful leaders who have an intimate understanding of what makes a successful executive leader as well as vast professional networks.

Biographies for other members of our team can be found on the Academic Search website at www.academicsearch.org/our-team.

Solutions And Expertise

Solutions
  • Executive Coaching
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership Consulting
  • Leadership Develop.
  • Onboarding
Industries
  • Associations
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Education
  • Non-Profit
Functions
  • Board/Governance
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • General Management
  • Human Resources

News Briefings

The University of Nebraska Taps Academic Search for Find Next President

Jay Lemons, Jennifer Kooken, and George Ross of education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has been retained by the University of Nebraska to lead in its search for a new president. Past president Ted Carter left the school last year to become the president of Ohio State University, a search that was led by Santa Barbara, CA-based Education Executives. The president must

Higher Education Leaders Join Academic Search’s Board

Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search recently elected Berenecea Johnson Eanes as chair, Kathy Wilson Humphrey as vice chair, as well as Damián J. Fernández and Cynthia Teniente-Matson as new board members. “As we usher in these esteemed new members, we also bid farewell to accomplished colleagues who have dedicated years of service to advancing higher education through their

HR Leaders and Diversity Chiefs Continue to Push for Inclusion

HR leaders and executive recruiters alike say that promoting diversity and belonging in the workplace is not just a buzzword. It’s a crucial aspect of modern businesses. Companies that foster diversity and belonging have been proven to have better financial performance, increased innovation, and a more engaged workforce. However, a recent report from The Christopher

Academic Search Recruits CEO for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities

Jay Lemons, Jennifer Kooken, and Maria Thompson of education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has recruited Charles L. Welch as its new president and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). After five years of service, the current president, Mildred García, has stepped down. “We are thrilled to welcome Chuck Welch as the new president and

Press Releases

Academic Search Establishes Fund for Leadership Development for Two Higher Education Organizations

Academic Search, a leading executive search firm dedicated to higher education, proudly announces the establishment of the Academic Search Fund for Leadership Development through $1 million in gifts to be split equally between the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). The organizations have each established permanent

Four Distinguished Higher Education Leaders Join Academic Search Board, Honoring Departing Members

During this year’s annual Board meeting, we proudly welcomed four exceptional higher education leaders to our Board: Berenecea Johnson Eanes (Chair), Damián J. Fernández, Kathy Wilson Humphrey (Vice Chair), and Cynthia Teniente-Matson. As we usher in these esteemed new members, we also bid farewell to accomplished colleagues who have dedicated years of service to advancing higher education

Introducing Our Newest Senior Consultant: Dr. Mary E. Kennard

We are thrilled to announce the latest addition to our esteemed team of experts in higher education executive search. Dr. Mary E. Kennard has joined us as a Senior Consultant, bringing with her an impressive background in university administration and legal affairs. Dr. Kennard’s career in higher education spans over 40 years, during which she

Four Distinguished Higher Education Leaders Join Academic Search Board, Honoring Departing Members

During this year’s annual Board meeting, we proudly welcomed four exceptional higher education leaders to our Board: Berenecea Johnson Eanes (Chair), Damián J. Fernández, Kathy Wilson Humphrey (Vice Chair), and Cynthia Teniente-Matson. As we usher in these esteemed new members, we also bid farewell to accomplished colleagues who have dedicated years of service to advancing higher education

Walsh Appoints Suzanne Siegle Provost and Executive VP

Walsh President and CEO Michael Levens, Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Suzanne M. Siegle, Ed.D., J.D., as provost and executive vice president effective Sept. 14, 2020. As provost, Siegle will oversee faculty, academic administration and support services, online and remote learning, library services and institutional research. “Dr. Siegle is a dynamic leader who brings

Multimedia

Talent Talks

The Future of the College Presidency

In this brand new episode of ‘Talent Talks,’ Hunt Scanlon Media host Rob Adams is joined by Scott Miller, president of Virginia Wesleyan University & Jay Lemons, president of Academic Search. In this exclusive podcast, Scott reflects on the evolution  of the college presidency over his 29 years in the industry and then provides an

Videos

Academic Search: Setting the Standard for Excellence in Higher Education Executive Search
Academic Search: Executive Coaching Designed for Higher Education Leaders
Academic Search: Committed to Identifying and Developing Leaders in Higher Education

Podcasts

Today’s higher education leaders share their stories and insights about leadership in the academy. Join host Jay Lemons and his guests for thoughtful conversations and interesting perspectives on leadership.

Leaders on Leadership is brought to you by Academic Search and the American Academic Leadership Institute, who together support colleges and universities during times of transition and through leadership development activities that serve current and future generations of institutional leaders.

To listen to the Leaders on Leadership podcasts, click here!

Insights