Isaacson, Miller Appoints New President and CEO
April 15, 2021 – The board of directors of Isaacson, Miller has appointed Ericka Miller as the firm’s next president and CEO. She will officially start her term on July 1, upon the retirement of current president Vivian Brocard.
“As one of the first women of color to lead a major national executive search firm, Ericka brings a deep and lifelong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, consistent with Isaacson, Miller’s core values,” the search firm said. “Ericka has done an excellent job of building and leading our PreK-12 education and education improvement practice, chairing the promotions committee, and serving as an indispensable member of the board of directors,” said John Isaacson, founder and chair of Isaacson, Miller. “She distinguished herself with her colleagues on the board and was their unanimous choice for president and CEO. They are both proud and grateful to welcome her as the successor to Vivian. Vivian has led the firm skillfully and leaves an outstanding legacy. She and Ericka will manage the transition together.”
Unwavering Commitment to High-Quality Service
“It’s truly an honor to be asked to lead Isaacson, Miller and build upon the superb leadership of Vivian Brocard, and the continued support of John Isaacson as the firm’s chair,” said Ms. Miller. “I returned to the firm in 2016 because I believe that the work that we do to strengthen and diversify the civic sector is critically important,” she said. “The unwavering commitment to high-quality service to our clients and the immensely talented search consultants who constitute the firm inspire me every day. I’m excited about the future.”
Having served as a partner at Isaacson, Miller from 2005 to 2007, Ms. Miller rejoined the firm as a partner with a broad education-focused practice in 2016. She has a wealth of leadership experience in the non-profit sector and government, as well as experience in the for-profit arena and academia. Her clients are located around the country and include preK-16 education non-profits, education advocacy organizations, foundations, scientific research societies, historically black colleges and universities, and social justice research institutes. Ms. Miller leads the firm’s preK-12 education and education improvement practice, and she serves on the firm’s executive committee.
Ms. Miller was a senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education in the Obama administration after being nominated for assistant secretary for postsecondary education in the U.S. Department of Education. She was a long-term client of Isaacson, Miller during her seven-year tenure as the chief operating officer of The Education Trust, a national research and advocacy organization based in D.C. Ms. Miller managed an education consulting firm as president and COO, worked as a legislative adviser on Capitol Hill, and began her career as a faculty member at Mills College after completing her doctorate in English literature at Stanford University. For much of her career, she has blended leadership and management with deep domain expertise in education.
