Isaacson, Miller Seeking President for the Center for Congregations
October 8, 2025 – Ernest Brooks, Liz Braun, and Henry Nickerson of Boston-based Isaacson, Miller are currently leading the president search for the Center for Congregations. This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary and collaborative leader with a passion for strengthening Christian congregations in Indiana. The Center serves as a conduit for congregations to think about their challenges in a new, more expansive way while honoring the autonomy and wisdom of congregations. Over the last several years the Center for Congregations team has grown, expanded the range of congregations served, and introduced new program offerings to address the dynamic needs of Indiana’s congregations.
Reporting to the board of directors, the president is the chief executive of the center, leading a team of 30, with oversight for an approximate annual $19 million operating budget and roughly $3.5 million in annual grant awards. Working collaboratively with Lilly Endowment and the congregations of Indiana, the president will be responsible for listening carefully to congregational leaders, hearing their needs, and serving as a catalyst in the development of the vision, outcomes, and strategic priorities that will guide the ongoing work of the center.
In order to fulfill the mission of the Center, the president will need to cultivate a high-functioning team, be attentive to the evolving challenges and opportunities facing congregations in a rapidly changing landscape, and serve as a trusted partner to congregations, community organizations, faith leaders, and other key stakeholders across Indiana.
Those applying should bring a depth of expertise and demonstrated leadership in and commitment to strengthening congregations as a pastor or congregational leader with ongoing involvement in congregational life. Significant experience and demonstrated competence in religious scholarship—particularly congregational studies and/or the social scientific study of religious communities—and an ability to understand and communicate about the landscape of religion in the United States and Indiana specifically is preferred. Candidates must have proven experience managing large, complex programs, including budgeting, staff management and development, and strategic planning. (Experience in a senior management role in a grant-funded organization with a comprehensive program, an annual budget of at least $5 million, and supervising a distributed team across multiple work locations is ideal.)
The Center for Congregations is an Indiana-based nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening congregations across the state by connecting them with the right tools, guidance, and financial support. With a mission to help congregations “find and use the best resources to address their challenges and opportunities,” the Center offers services such as matching grants (up to $25,000) for strategic projects, resource consulting (no-cost individualized support), educational programming and workshops, and an online resource directory called the Congregational Resource Guide (CRG).
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.
An experienced executive search consultant and co-lead of Isaacson, Miller’s social justice and advocacy practice area, Ms. Braun is highly regarded for her engaged, responsive, and collaborative approach. He has recruited chief executive, C-suite, and senior functional leaders for organizations across the social sector including higher education, philanthropy, and collective impact networks, organizations, and associations.
Related: Isaacson, Miller Recruits Chief Advancement Officer for the Taft School
Dr. Braun joined Isaacson, Miller as a senior associate in 2022 with over 25 years in education administration. Prior to joining the firm, she served as the inaugural director of development and community partnerships at The Grayson School.
Mr. Nickerson joined Isaacson, Miller in 2023 as a search coordinator. He comes to the company with a background in customer service and academic writing.
Georgetown University Search
Isaacson, Miller was recently retained by Georgetown University to lead in its search for a new president. John Isaacson, Anita Tien, Berkley Burke, and Jane McInerney are leading the assignment. The search committee is made up of directors of our board as well as members of the faculty and the Society of Jesus. As the search committee begins its work, it will announce several opportunities for community input, including listening sessions for faculty, staff, students and alumni as well as other mechanisms for input.
“Our board of directors has articulated that the future president will implement the university’s vision for excellence; sustain our strong Catholic and Jesuit identity; foster a sense of community, shared purpose and collaboration among our faculty, staff, students and alumni; and ensure Georgetown continues its leadership in higher education on a national and global level, among other priorities,” the school said in a release. “The board has retained the internationally recognized search firm Isaacson, Miller to work with them to manage the search process. Isaacson, Miller has been involved in numerous and successful academic searches across higher education, including at multiple Jesuit colleges and universities, and has been engaged on other searches at Georgetown. Searches like this are complex and sensitive, and we expect to benefit greatly from their expertise, and specialized resources to generate a pool of outstanding candidates.”
Related: Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruits 25th President for Marquette University
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
