Isaacson, Miller Leading President Search for Virginia Tech
July 31, 2026 – Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has been selected by Virginia Tech to lead in its search for a new president. Current president Tim Sands announced his resignation in April. Greg Esposito and Julie Filizetti are leading this search with Kristen Andersen, Raul Bernal, Victoria Castillo, and Gabrielle Nayar. The school seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as its next president.
The next president of Virginia Tech will capitalize on this momentum and the opportunities to lead this complex, multi-campus institution. The president will be expected to articulate and execute a bold vision that advances Virginia Tech’s position among the world’s leading public research universities.
Key priorities include advancing academic and research excellence, championing the university’s land-grant mission, supporting competitive and principled athletics, expanding the impact of Virginia Tech on the commonwealth and beyond, and leading comprehensive fundraising efforts. Virginia Tech seeks a leader with experience, judgment, and credibility to inspire and guide a complex public institution with high aspirations and deliver results aligned with its mission.
As the commonwealth’s largest and most comprehensive university and leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers about 280 undergraduate, graduate, and first professional degree programs to more than 38,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across the commonwealth and manages a research portfolio of more than $650 million. The school was founded in 1872.
A nationally recognized search firm focused on recruiting transformational leaders for mission-driven organizations, Isaacson, Miller has conducted thousands of placements over more than three decades. More than half of the firm’s work has been in academia, involving university presidents, college chancellors and deans. The firm has filled top leadership posts at Wellesley College, Washington State University, Miami University, Howard University, Bowdoin College, Dartmouth, NYU, Virginia State University, and the University of North Carolina, among others.
Related: Isaacson, Miller Assists UVA in the Recruitment of 10th President
John Isaacson, the firm’s chair, founded Isaacson, Miller in 1982. He has led searches in many areas of the firm’s practice. Mr. Isaacson has helped the firm develop its cumulative knowledge of the craft of search and has attended, with increasing interest, to the missionary purposes of institutions, the political and economic disciplines of specialized markets, and the emotional and intellectual learnings that leaders acquire in a committed working life.
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Mr. Esposito, partners, serves a wide range of colleges and universities in searches for academic and administrative leaders. Since joining Isaacson, Miller in 2010, he has completed several university leadership searches, filling president, chancellor, provost, and a variety of dean roles. His work has included several dean searches for business schools, colleges of veterinary medicine, and schools of engineering.
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of the institution and her ability to lead at scale. “Our unanimous vote reflects a clear sense of direction for Texas A&M,” said board chairman Robert L. Albritton. “There is strong momentum already building behind Dr. Ballabina across the university and among those who care deeply about its future, and we are confident she will carry that forward.”
As a leader in the firm’s higher education practice, Ms. Filizetti focuses primarily on higher education leadership roles in public and private institutions, including presidents, provosts, vice presidents, deans and directors. She also conducts searches in a range of areas, including academic medicine, training and development, advancement, research, and technology. Since coming to Isaacson, Miller in 2007, Ms. Filizetti has developed strong relationships with many clients who turn to her for her ability to adapt to an organization’s needs and grow their leadership capacity.
Ms. Andersen joined Isaacson, Miller as a senior associate in 2021 and her work has focused on higher education leadership roles. Her notable placements include dean of the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University, vice provost for enrollment at UNC-Chapel Hill, dean of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh, provost and dean of the College of the Holy Cross, and dean of Newcomb-Tulane College at Tulane University.
Mr. Bernal joined Isaacson, Miller as a senior associate in 2021. His experience in higher education includes roles in career services, enrollment management, and executive education and training. Most recently, Mr. Bernal served as director of career and professional success for liberal arts students at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to his work in higher education, he brings knowledge and experience working with non-profits, foundations, and international development agencies.
Ms. Castillo joined Isaacson, Miller as a search coordinator in 2021. She provides logistical leadership in searches and serves as the main point of contact with the client’s administration. Her work has included several dean searches led by Mr. Esposito for colleges of veterinary medicine and schools of engineering.
Ms. Nayar joined Isaacson, Miller as a search coordinator in 2025. She primarily supports searches focused on higher education leadership roles across public and private institutions.
Related: Isaacson, Miller Recruits Chief Information Officer for the Smithsonian Institution
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
